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“Casting the Net”Building Consensus
2009 National Leadership ConferenceApril 24, 2009
Lacosta Resort Carlsbad, California
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How Organizations Make DecisionsThe boss decides
Voting (majority rules)
Consensus (participatory decision making)
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Consensus DefinedFrom the Latin “shared thought”
Does not mean complete agreement
Does mean extensive support
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Consensus Especially Important for…
Contentious, divisive issues
Significant decisions
Decisions adversely impacting one or more stakeholder groups
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STEPS TO CONSENSUS1. ASSESS THE LEVEL OF TRUST2. ANTICIPATE AND PREPARE3. SHARE INFORMATION4. FACILITATE OPEN DISCUSSION5. EVALUATE YOUR PROGRESS
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Step 1: Assess the Level of Trust
Trust is the foundation of consensusHow well do your Board members know
each other? Do the Board members share common
goals for the association?Do Board members see themselves as
working toward the common good or as representatives of specific constituencies?
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Step 2: Anticipate & PrepareQuestions
Concerns
Positions
Past history
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What It Takes To Build Consensus Informed participants (knowledge-based
decision making)What is known about the issueWhat are potential implications or impactHow do members feel (research?)Are there any ethical implications
A good facilitator
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Step 3: Share InformationDevelop a common understanding of the
issueProvide background/data for informed
decision makingShare with entire Board
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Step 4: Facilitate Open DiscussionEveryone feels comfortable expressing
ideas and opinions (and does so)Disagreement is healthySeparate ideas from personalitiesEncourage respect for strong opinionsBe open to compromiseConsider a “work session” preceding a
formal Board meetingAppoint a scribe and timekeeper if
necessary
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Need a good FacilitatorNever state an opinion or take sidesProtect the participants and their ideasKeep the discussion movingMake sure participants understand your role;
you might be the president, but you are the facilitator of the discussion
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Setting Ground RulesEveryone ParticipatesNo speechesSilence implies
agreementNo side conversationsTurn off cell phones, etc.Agree to disagree,
without being disagreeable
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Scenario: Problem SolvingWrite out the problem statementAgree on success criteriaBrainstorm possible solutionsCombine similar ideasIf list is large, straw poll to narrow itEvaluate final list against criteriaSelect the best choiceDetermine level of supportFine-tune to increase support
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Tools for Participatory Decision MakingGradients of agreement scale
Endorsement: I like itEndorsement with minor contention: Basically
I like itAgreement with reservations: I can live with itAbstain: I have no opinion
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04/18/23 Never Leave a Meeting Without It 17
Tools for Participatory Decision MakingStand aside: I don’t like this, but I don’t want
to hold up the group
Formal disagreement but willing to go with the majority: I want my disagreement noted in writing, but I’ll support the decision
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Formal disagreement, with request to be absolved of responsibility for implementation: I don’t want to stop anyone else, but I don’t want to be involved in implementing it
Block: I will do what I can to stop this from happening
Tools for Participatory Decision Making
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Tools for Participatory Decision MakingNominal group technique- Structured variation of
small group discussion. Technique prevents domination of discussion by a single person & encourages all to participate
Steps:Divide group into small groups of 5-6 members State an open-ended questionSpend several minutes in silence- brainstormingCollect ideas one response at a time while being
recorded on flipchart (no criticism allowed)Anonymously vote for best ideas & give group report
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“Fist to Five”
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1 Finger- I still need to discuss certain issues and suggest changes that should be made.
2 Fingers-I am more comfortable with the proposal but would like to discuss some minor issues.
3 Fingers-I’m not in total agreement but feel comfortable to let this decision or a proposal pass without further discussion.
4 Fingers-I think it’s a good idea/decision and will work for it.
5 Fingers-It’s a great idea and I will be one of the leaders in implementing it.
“Fist to Five”
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Step 5: Evaluate Your ProcessWhat did you do well?
Where do you need to improve?
What can you do better next time?
How do participants feel about the result?
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CONSENSUSDO WE HAVE CONSENSUS THAT WE
LEARNED SOMETHING NEW TODAY?