151 Quick Ideas for Delegating and Decision Making

16When It’s Not

So when do you not use consensus decision making?

An authoritarian decision is appropriate under some circumstances where consensus is either not possible or not practical. This sounds negative, but it doesn’t have to be. An authoritarian decision is one made by someone with the “authority” to make the decision.

There are two primary factors that may dictate whether or not an authoritative decision is appropriate: time and politics.

When time is of the essence, an authoritarian decision is best made. Getting groups together, discussing the process, and arriving at a consensus decision takes time—time you don’t always have. If you are in a crisis or an emergency, don’t go for a consensus decision, make one yourself.

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