Consensus Points

by Tree Bressen

Definition: a group decision-making process in which all present must agree before action is taken

Overview
  • Cooperation is basis, we all get more of what we want when we cooperate
  • Consensus seeks to synthesize the wisdom of the group
  • Unity (different from unanimity)
  • Sense of the meeting—essence is something you can support or are willing to let go forward
  • "Everyone has a piece of the truth"
  • Value all kinds of input (rational, emotional, kinesthetic, etc.)
  • Remember the spirit and process of the system are even more important than the structures

    Main Reasons to Use It
    1. High quality decisions
    2. Builds relationship among members
    3. More effective implementation

    Values Basis
    Cooperation
    Democracy/Egalitarianism
    Honesty/Openness
    Responsibility
    Trust
    Simplicity
    Love

    What Helps It Work Well

  • Common purpose
  • Listening
  • Openness to ideas, feelings and experiences of others--> transformative experience, give & take
  • Trust (some degree)
  • Willingness to let go of some of your personal attachments in the best interest of the group
  • Focus on issues, not personalities—common ownership of ideas
    Focus on interests, not positions, avoid agree/disagree
    Find the reasons behind the positions
  • Value feelings, tells you where energy is tied up
  • Commitment
  • Preparation: agenda planning, facilitator prep, bringing materials, etc.
  • Time—enough to work in depth; patience
    (but if strong common purpose can sometimes decide quickly)

    How an Item Moves through the Meeting
    (aka The Flow of the Consensus Process)
    1. Presentation by presenter, introduction to issue
    2. Clarify the issue and context
    3. Discussion
    Bring out a diversity of ideas, concerns, and perspectives
    Look at possible solutions and the problems with those solutions
    Note agreements and disagreements and the underlying reasons for them—discuss those underlying reasons
    Synthesize proposed ideas/solutions or come up with new ideas in the supportive atmosphere of the meeting
    4. Decision
    Evaluate the different ideas until one idea seems right for the group
    Make sure there are no loose ends, including clarity of implementation
    Check that everyone truly consents to the decision
    Re-state the decision for the notetaker

    STRUCTURE
    Agreement
  • consensus is not the same thing as 100% unanimous vote in majority rule
  • how much agreement is enough is something each group needs to decide for itself, but it's good to be explicit
    Standing Aside
  • personal place of conscience
  • personal disagreement with group direction, different opinion
  • intuition, not in alignment
  • name in minutes and reason
  • not called upon to be active implementer of that decision, but still covered by it
  • How many is too many? More than 1-2? The more you allow, the more it's like voting; go too far and you lose the extra effectiveness of consensus action.
    Blocking
  • not about you personally, never based on personal preference
  • don't do prematurely, integrate your concerns into discussion early on
  • appropriate blocks are most likely to arise from different interpretations of a group value, or 2 group values coming into conflict with each other
  • only do if proposal is disastrous for group, then responsible for stopping it (but it's not ok to prevent group from risking)

    OTHER GENERAL INFO

  • screen yourself before talking: does the Group need to hear this now? emphasis on group needs, not individuals
  • time: everyone's time is valuable, if someone talks for 3 minutes to 20 people, that's an hour of "person-time"
    quick affirmations: twinkling, snapping, so-and-so speaks my mind, ditto
    if it only involves a few people, let them talk outside the meeting
    timekeeper needs to give 5-15 minute alert ahead, and 2nd flag later
  • group is allowed to set boundaries,
    such as when to incorporate input from non-members
    or Rule of 3: 1st meeting observe only, 2nd mtg. discuss, 3rd meeting can block
  • sunset clause—trial period is a great tool, but relies on having a functional ongoing agenda list
  • the skills necessary for consensus are also necessary for good relationships!

    CONSENSUS & VOTING

  • 2 different systems
  • Voting is a win-lose system, whereas consensus seeks to synthesize the wisdom of the group
  • Voting can be incorporated into a consensus setting, either to provide information or to make the decision (e.g. during a budgeting process)
  • If you are going to use voting, educate yourself about different systems (such as preference voting and multi-winner voting) so you can make the best choice
  • Remember the spirit and process of the system are at least as important as the structure

    Tree Bressen, facilitator and teacher, has been assisting intentional communities, nonprofits, and other organizations with group process since 1994. Pages from her website are available for copying and distribution free of charge as long as you continue to include these credit lines and contact information.

    Tree Bressen
    1990 Orchard Street
    Eugene, Oregon 97403
    541-343-3855
    tree@ic.org