Progress over Consensus

Waiting for everyone to agree is how products die.

Consensus feels safe, but it’s often just procrastination dressed as process. The best PMs know when to move forward with “good enough” alignment.

What This Means in Practice

• Disagree and commit — then actually commit
• Set deadlines for decisions, not just discussions
• Accept that not everyone will be happy (that’s normal)
• Course-correct in motion, not at rest

The Anti-Pattern

You’re violating this pillar when you:

• Schedule another meeting to “align stakeholders”
• Wait for unanimous approval before acting
• Let one dissenter block progress
• Mistake politeness for agreement

The Mantra

“If you wait until you’re ready, you’ll never do anything.” — Lemony Snicket

Progress creates clarity. Stalling creates confusion.