consensus decision making 2014 leadership summit

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Consensus Decision Making

Eneid A. Francis Pontchartrain (LA) Chapter Southern Area Director

Effecting Change Through the Power of Friendship and Service Leadership by Design: Listening, Learning, Leading

Effecting Change Through the Power of Friendship and Service

Leadership by Design: Listening, Learning, Leading

10/4/14

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*  A decision reached by the members of a group that everyone can agree on, or at least live with

*  Does not mean everyone agrees with the decision

*  True consensus involves “meeting everyone’s needs”


What is consensus?


*  Consensus is a decision that as a group member: •  You can live with, •  You will support your colleagues in implementing,

and •  Your will do nothing to impede implementation of.


What is consensus? Cont’d


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*  Unanimity *  Majority vote *  Compromise


Consensus is not


*  Consensus is the outcome of a consensus decision-‐making process.

*  Creative and dynamic approach for reaching an agreement among all members of a group

*  A means of reaching a recommendation where the input of everyone is sought and carefully considered


Consensus decision making is


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*  Fundamental right of consensus decision making: •  For everyone involved to be able to express

themselves in his or her own words and of his or her own free will

*  Fundamental responsibility of consensus decision making: •  To ensure that everyone has the right to speak

and be heard Effecting Change Through the Power of Friendship and Service

Consensus decision making is


1.  A group of people willing to work together, 2.  A problem or issue that requires a decision by

the group, 3.  Trust that there is a solution, 4.  Perseverance to find the truth, and 5.  Communal discernment.


Necessary elements


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1.  Mutual respect for one another. 2.  Willingness to listen to others and see their

perspectives. 3.  Willingness to share your own ideas but not insist

they are the best ones. 4.  Commitment to reaching a mutually agreeable

outcome. 5.  Willingness to accept decisions that you may not

totally agree with, but can live with.


Participants must have


Why use consensus decision making vs. another method?

Voting

*  Competitive *  Chooses one alternative *  Win-‐Lose situation *  Quick

Consensus

*  Co-‐operative *  Synthesizes many diverse ideas *  Win-‐Win situation *  Takes time

Effecting Change Through the Power of Friendship and Service Leadership by Design: Listening, Learning, Leading

10/4/14

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*  Inclusive participation engages and empowers the group *  Requires a commitment to work together and increases cooperation *  Equalizes the distribution of power in a group *  Can create better decisions that are more representative of the larger community *  Creates more ownership and commitment


Benefits of consensus decision-‐making


*  Significantly decreases the possibility that a minority will feel that a decision was imposed on them; and *  Safeguards against uninformed decision making, “rubber-‐stamping” of decisions, coercion, self-‐interest, mistrust and half-‐hearted decisions; *  Results in more effective implementation because the entire group takes action on the project or plan


Benefits of consensus decision-‐making Cont’d


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1.  Proposals are presented 2.  Participants give each proposal an initial rating

3.  Participants share their reasons for each rating


Weighting Process


4.  Group discusses and records the advantages and disadvantages of each proposal

5.  Each participant gives his or her final rating. •  “0” No Opinion -‐ No longer an option


Weighting Process Cont’d


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RATING THE PROPOSALS: A, B, & C

+3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3 Very Strongly

in Favor Strongly in

Favor Slightly in

Favor No

Opinion Slightly

Resistant Strongly

Resistant Very Strongly

Resistant

Proposal 1:

Initial Rating Response _______ (Prior to assembly discussion)

Final Rating Response______ (After assembly discussion)

Proposal 2:



Proposal 3:




Rating the Proposals: A, B, & C


*  Ratings for each proposal are tallied and the average rating for each proposal is determined *  Steps:

1.  Multiply the rating by the number of participants giving the rating

2.  Add the results 3.  Divide the sum by the total number of

participants (15 in the example) 4.  Result is the average


Tallying the results


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Tallying the results


TALLYING THE RATINGS: PROPOSALS A, B, & C

Proposals

+3 +2 +1 -1 -2 -3 Total

A

B

C


Tallying the Proposal Ratings


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*  Minimum average rating of +1.5 -‐ +2 is required for consideration *  Average rating of +1.5 or higher is not automatically the decision *  Participants who are still at -‐2 or -‐3 will have to be given an additional opportunity to explain their position *  Proposal with the highest rating will be accepted as the group’s decision.


Decision


RATING THE PROPOSALS: A, B, & C

+3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3 Very Strongly

in Favor Strongly in

Favor Slightly in

Favor No

Opinion Slightly

Resistant Strongly

Resistant Very Strongly

Resistant

Proposal 1:



Proposal 2:



Proposal 3:



TALLYING THE RATINGS: PROPOSALS A, B, & C

Proposals

+3 +2 +1 -1 -2 -3 Total

A

B

C

consensus decision making 2014 leadership summit

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