LIMITS FOR CONSENSUS

The Editor of Economic Times caustically observed in his editorial of 8^th December, “Consensus of all stakeholders is a Chimera. If

Independence had waited for consensus among the sundry rulers of India’s princely states on ending their own rule, we would still be singing God save the Queen.”

          One of the challenges faced by leadership at any level in any field including family matters, is decision taking by building consensus. While the idea itself is sound and desirable, the real impediment threatening decision taking is individual interpretation of the word ‘consensus’ by each party. Authority is given to execute a responsibility with accountability. This authority can be obstructed by motivated recourse to dissent in the process of decision by consensus. By deliberate intent, many worthwhile decisions are known to have been delayed to the point that the action window for a proposal ceased to exist leading to the classic fait accompli situation. My nearly three year old daughter recently recited during a her nursery rhyme ‘remix’ session, “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall – Johnny, Johnny had a great fall”.

          This insight does not require elaboration. So to be truly effective we may not seek to be politically correct when the need of the hour is to be professionally honest. The integrity of execution of the approved plan depends on a few key people who can be given advice but should not be held hostage to the vagaries of consensus building after the plan has passed muster.

While seeking constructive opinion, we require to spell out the extent to which consensus is sought – no more and no less. The resolve of the leadership to execute the task should be heard Strength Five.