Alignment is better than consensus. Consensus is when everyone just agrees (and we all know how rare that is).
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Alignment is when, even if some of the people don’t agree, they’ve been consulted, they’ve had a chance to speak their mind; they’ve been listened to, and their point of view validated. And, if needed, the reasons why we’re not going a certain way are explained.
When you include people in the process and show them you really understand, people are typically willing to disagree and commit. They’re willing to align without consensus because you heard them out. Got alignment stories?
Speaking of which...
Try our Early Reader Book Club: Aligned! Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders, as we write a book on just this topic.