FREE online courses on Effective Meeting Facilitation - Sample Forms Tools
Checklists - 8 THE PROCESS OF REACHING CONSENSUS
- Item
on the agenda (advanced circulation if possible)
-
Proponent introduces item, giving background, rationale, benefits and
drawbacks
-
Clarification of the proposal itself (keep working on problem definition)
- Open
up discussion on the proposal
i.
keep discussion on course (to the subject matter)
ii.
keep public record (flip chart)
iii.
clarify, summarize, record new issues
- If
there are unresolved concerns, list them one at a time -- the person who
objects should be the one to talk through those unresolved concerns
(use silence as a
strategy)
Responses:
Agree in Principle: with minor revisions, with reservations
No Agreement: opportunity to persuade, agree to disagree
Blocking: When one or more (usually two) individuals oppose
an otherwise agreed upon decision that has been developed through the consensus
process outlined above. Blocking is not disagreement -- disagreement has been
expressed throughout the consensus process. This disagreement strengthens the
decision. Blocking comes after the synthesizing of differing views, and is a
momentous undertaking.
Advantages of consensus:
- quality of the decision
- commitment to implementation
- fostering values and skills we preach
but forget to practice
