We have chosen consensus as our decision-making process. And so do we. Consensus is the process of group decision-making without voting. Voting encourages competition, often without regard to other's concerns, since its goal is the winning of the most votes. Using majority rule risks alienation and apathy within the group.
Consensus fosters an environment in which everyone is respected and all contributions are valued.
Creative resolution of all concerns contributes to the overall quality of the decision. Decisions reached by consensus are usually a synthesis of proposals or new ones that develop as a result of the discussion. Consensus does not mean unanimity. The goal of consensus is to achieve a decision that everyone in the group can live with, even though it may not be everyone's first choice. In using consensus, a greater sense of individual responsibility for the group's actions is generated and individuals who carry out the plans are more satisfied with the work.