Add another key skill to your toolbox: consensus building. Now, before you claim that this is just yet another thing that you simply don’t have time to do, take a minute to consider how mastering this art will aid you in building a stronger and more empowered team.

The principles of consensus building

The Merriam-Webster dictionary (did you know it’s been around since 1828 and continually adds new words? — in fact, editors devote an hour or two daily to seeking out new words) defines consensus as “a general agreement” or “group solidarity in sentiment and belief”. When a leader works to build consensus within his or her team, they become empowered to express disagreements and collaborate on solutions. Done well, this leads the group in making better decisions. And, ultimately because those who participate in decision making tend to more fully support the outcome; it can lead to easier execution.

Is consensus building easy?

Honestly, I haven’t found it to be. It takes both time and effort. To lead your team through this process, you have to stay open minded and be flexible. To be successful, you have to really focus on listening, finding common ground, and considering ideas that are not in agreement with your own.

If you can do that, you’ll have the opportunity to ultimately gain:

  • Better overall decisions
  • More motivated and involved team members
  • Buy in, even when making tough choices
  • Improved communication
  • And, potentially more rapid results

What to do when it seems difficult?

Remember, our 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, said, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”

This is a good reminder to all business leaders on days when the going gets tough.

Get an outside perspective

Ever hear of the phenomenon known as the curse of knowledge? It’s real and practically no business is immune to its powers. Even with the brightest minds, companies can get caught up in the day-to-day minutiae and bias that comes with working inside your four walls. It’s also why you need a fresh set of “eyes” from time to time.

When it comes to your sales and marketing efforts, an independent, unbiased resource can approach a challenge from another angle and offer a prescriptive solution to your problem. If you want to benefit from an outside perspective, as well as the flexibility, expertise and cost savings that come with an outside marketing resource, the Lumen Marketing team would like to hear from you.

We specialize in inbound marketing, websites and creative for B2B and B2C businesses. Our strategy-first marketing programs help clients generate demand, attract better leads, engage more effectively, and increase qualified sales opportunities that lead to measurable revenue. Whether you need to augment your existing team on a single project, or you need a completely turnkey, outsourced marketing solution, Lumen Marketing can help.

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