Last week we considered whether Collaboration is a substitute for Communication.

This week, we’ll come at this from a different angle: Since we know that Collaboration = Communication ≠ Consensus ≠ Accountability, is there any chance that Consensus builds Success?

Isn’t Collaboration Wonderful? Is it a Cure-All?

I was recently working with a young CEO who acceded to her company’s leadership.

She was the successor of a more authoritarian regime and found herself working overtime to establish a more collaborative and less hierarchical environment. She wanted to bring people to the table, encourage a stronger cultural bond among her employees and build a more inclusive culture that valued the contribution of each individual.

People welcomed those changes with open arms, eager to embrace a culture they much preferred.

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Is it healthy if your leadership team agrees with everything you want?

What emerged along with a more engaging and transparent culture, however, was a cadre of executives so eager to please their new leader, and to be a part of her leadership team, that they acquiesced to every idea and plan.

In turn, the CEO gushed over their support, confusing their affection for the new regime with the wisdom of her plans and strategies.

Soon enough, everyone was skipping down the hall holding hands and singing “kumbaya”.

What happens when the music stops?

But, the honeymoon soon ended, and what was perceived as a lovefest soon became a hornet’s nest of uncertainty, confusion and unclear expectations.

The new CEO realized that while consensus feels good, it’s not the same thing as collaboration or accountability.

When people aren’t executing the plans, no amount of cultural affection will overcome those failures.

At the same time, she struggled with how to hold people accountable for their individual performance without unraveling her genuine efforts to change the culture.

“Leadership is not magnetic personality, that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not ‘making friends and influencing people,’ that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to higher sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.

~Peter Drucker

Collaboration is NOT a substitute for Accountability

What I was able to help her see is that building a more collaborative culture can still be accomplished as long as her team members understand that collaboration … sharing ideas to reach the best answer … is not the same as consensus management.

As we also saw last week, neither is it a substitute for the accountability that is essential to getting things done.

What are some of the key ingredients of Accountability?

So, we talked about SMART goals, an ARCI chart setting out accountability and responsibility expectations, and even Apple’s renowned reliance on “Who’s the DRI?” — the “directly responsible individual” for every project and task.

Set Clear Expectations

We also went over the three most important words required to establish an accountable organization: Set Clear Expectations.

There’s no shortcut for this, nor a substitute for making sure that the people on your team are absolutely clear about what’s expected of them, with both desired outcomes and appropriate timelines.

Consensus management can be the enemy of accountability and will lead to a dysfunctional leadership team if you cannot ensure that all of your leaders are carrying out their duties and responsibilities.

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Focus on your Goals and Objectives – NOT Consensus

Over time, she began to understand that leadership isn’t about achieving consensus after all.

It’s about about achieving the goals and objectives to both advance the company’s strategy and fulfill the fiduciary obligations to shareholders and stakeholders alike.

Working hard to get everyone to agree with every decision is exhausting … AND it’s a poor substitute for getting things done.

Accountability starts at the top

That’s why accountability starts at the top in vibrant organizations and requires candid conversations and honest feedback.

In addition to collaborating to find realistic solutions, clear expectations are essential so that each member of your leadership team understands that the value of a more open and egalitarian culture is not consensus.

Rather, it is inclusiveness, team-building and above all, superior performance. Every team member must be committed to her individual goals and be prepared to openly address issues of non-performance by referring to a clearly articulated and mutually agreeable blueprint.

Demand vigorous debate. Challenge every idea

While building a culture of collaboration and transparency, leaders should welcome and encourage vigorous debate and develop a team around them who will challenge each other and fight for their ideas and beliefs.

Ideas that go unchallenged are unlikely to be the best ideas because great ideas invariably emerge from a kernel of truth, enhanced by a rigorous process that tests the theories, anticipates obstacles and celebrates the flexibility that all enduring concepts must possess.

Consensus is the Enemy of Achieving Success … AND it will wear you flat out. Click to Tweet

You can achieve Collaboration without Consensus

Last week, we were reminded that Collaboration is not a Substitute for Communication.

Now, we’re reminded that the famed Collaboration Goal also is no guarantee of success. It’s also not the accountability you need to build a successful organization.

As a leader, the last thing you want is a group of leaders surrounding you that will tell you only what you want to hear, agree with you at every turn and refuse to challenge your ideas and strategy.

You Can Achieve Collaboration without Consensus

You can achieve collaboration without consensus. And, if you couple Collaboration with Communication, you have a chance to build a superior organization.

Strive for superior performance as a business strategy and hold everyone accountable for their individual performance to build a successful business.

You can do that with Collaboration and Communicatio
n. You can’t do it struggling to reach consensus while holding hands around the coffee urn.

Question: Which of these cultural features is most prominent in your organization: Collaboration or Consensus?

You can easily add your comment below, or by visiting our Facebook Page or @Exkalibur on Twitter. I visit them every day and look forward to hearing your comment and expanding our discussion of these ideas and concepts.