[Dialogue] Consensus--BS?

Mon Oct 15 20:35:16 EDT 2007

Jim,   I can appreciate your situation. When I’m facilitating, I tell people that the reason I have them work silently by themselves to do an initial brainstorming is because some of us have a very short connection between our brain and our mouth. These are the people who can immediately respond verbally to a question with their opinion or idea. Others of us have a more convoluted connection between our brain (thoughts) and our mouth. And it takes us a bit longer to articulate our response. So taking this time to individually gather our thoughts before we start sharing and discussing them helps both types. The quick ones have time to actually consider what they say before they speak and the others actually have something to share on the first go round.

Cynthia, I’m glad you put this out to the list. I considered doing so but was busy pushing, pulling, lifting and holding Tuecke back from doing the same. I hoped you or Sunny or someone would come forth.  There’s a group of us that have been using these definitions and comments in our training, too.

Pat

From: dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Jim Baumbach
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 7:53 AM
To: Colleague Dialogue
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] Consensus--BS?

Due to a different brain wiring than the more outspoken, extroverted types in the Order, I often found myself left completely out of the process.  When I was serious about participating in any discussions that involved decisions, it always took much effort to listen to what was being said and an even longer time to formulate my own thoughts about it.  When my thoughts started to clarify to a point that I felt I could intelligently express them, the group had moved well beyond them.  Expressing these thoughts when others had gone onto other issues was commonly rejected by hearing "we've already discussed that, where have you been?"  After several years of frustration I reached a point where I decided if the decision was something I agreed with, I'd support it.  If not, I chucked it out of my way and moved on.

Consensus decision making takes time not only because of the diverse opinions around the table but also because there are those of us who need time to think over the model, etc. in order to formulate our responses.  In the fast paced life of the Order, time always seemed to too little, too late.  It felt as if so many consensed decisions were plopped on us with a take it or leave it attitude.

In addition to diversity of opinions, consensus building takes time for those who think fast and talk fast to wait for people who think slower and talk less.

Jim Baumbach

FacilitationFla at aol.com wrote: 

 I've used this in my facilitation classes for quite a few years; Gary Forbes and I created the definition.  The other information I gathered over the years.

Consensus Definition: 

“Consensus is that everyone has participated in, understands, and is 

committed to supporting the group decision.”

A lasting agreement has 3 components:

1.  Content Satisfaction

          “I understand the decision; I can support the group decision.”

          This is more powerful than the usual “I can live with the decision”

          It means that given the time we have to discuss and the 

          need to make a decision by a certain time/date,  this is the best 

          decision we can make now as a group.

          As in a wedding when people are asked to ‘speak now or 

          forever  hold their peace’. It is also a commitment not to 

          downgrade the decision after the meeting.

2.  Procedural Satisfaction:

        “I participated in the process.”

          I offered up my ideas and people listened to me; facilitation 

          processes were utilized to maximize participation.

3.   Psychological Satisfaction:

          “I felt I was treated with respect during the process.”

           No one put me down; the facilitator protected me so that my ideas

          and explanation of my ideas were heard and considered seriously.

Cynthia N. Vance, M. A.
Strategics International Inc.
Miami, Florida Office: 305-378-1327
Venice, Florida Office: 941-483-9165
http://members.aol.com/facilitationfla

Want to build your own facilitation skills? 
Want to meet facilitators from around the world and in your own backyard? 
Mark your calendar for the International Assoc. of Facilitators Conference 2008
Atlanta, Georgia -- April 10-12, 2008 See www.iaf-world.org <http://www.iaf-world.org/> 

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