A Checklist for the Consensus Process and Facilitation
These are just some of the many ways to conduct a meeting using the consensus process. Roles should be carried out by everyone as needed not just the person specially designated.
Basic Procedure
Before the meeting (or at previous meeting):
- Choose facilitator(s)
- Gather agenda items
- Determine presenter/initiator for each item
- Determine item type: announcement, report,
- discussion, decision
- Bring materials/supplies needed
At the meeting:
- Connect (game, song, ritual, etc.)
- Check-in/excitement-sharing
- Agenda review: agree on order and time
- Choose notetaker, timekeeper, vibeswatcher
- Step through the agenda (big or little first?)
- Take breaks
- Announcements
- Set next meeting
- Evaluation (good, bad, better)
- Closing (game, song, ritual, etc.)
The Flow of a Cooperative Decision-Making Process
Background
- What are we talking about?
- Issue raised- what is the problem?
- Clarify problem put it in context
Discuss
- Bring out a diversity of ideas, concerns, perspectives
- look at possible solutions and the problems with those solutions
Develop Proposal /Proposal Made
- Clarifying Questions
- Concerns
- Discussion / Friendly Amendments
- Re-state Proposal
Test for Consensus
- Strong concerns /objections
- Stand Asides
- Blocks
- Consensus
Consensus Reached
Decision Implemented – Who does what? Make sure there are no loose ends
Restate the decision for the note taker (including implementation)
Tools for Successful Meetings
- Brainstorms, Popcorn (no order, just popping in)
- Go around the circle, rounds
- Stacking (count off – limit to 3-5),
- Small-group discussion, dyads, tryads
- Advantages/disadvantages chart
- Straw Polls – sense of group
- Visual aids, Visible notes
- Criteria Process
- Goals’/priorities-setting techniques, dots
- Challenges/devil’s advocate questions
- Participation equalizers (pebbles, etc.)
- Active listening in pairs
- Support groups/caucuses, Feelings sharing
- Fishbowls, Role plays
Typical Tasks of Facilitators
- Helps formulate agenda
- Helps establish a hopeful, upbeat, and safe atmosphere
- Helps group work through decisions:
- Calls on Speakers
- Asks for clarification
- Summarizes, sorts, focuses discussion — lists threads of
- thought, agreements, and disagreements
- Helps prioritize and order discussion topics
- Brings out all viewpoints
- Looks for underlying agreements
- Synthesizes differences
- Restates Proposal, Limits proposals on floor
- Formalizes Decisions
- Encourages equal participation
- Draws out quiet people
- Limits Talkers
- Uses Facilitation Tools
- Stays neutral while facilitating
Typical Tasks of a Vibeswatcher
- Watches the process of the meeting
- Notices underlying feelings from tone of voice and body
- language, points out tension and weariness,
- recommends changes
- Stops bad process (domineering, guilt-tripping,
- interrupting, put-downs, bulldozing, defensiveness, space-outs, etc.)
- Helps resolve conflicts
- Helps work out negative emotions (fear, anger, anxiety, hopelessness)
- Suggests tools to improve meetings
- Helps create a safe, accepting tone
- Deals with outside distractions
Tools for Stress-Reduction/Conflict Resolution
- Stretch breaks/cooperative games
- Singing
- Humor
- Affirmations
- Feelings sharing
- Silence (mediation, prayer)
- Calm voice
- Making LOUD noises
- Eye contact
- Breathing (deep)
- Back rubs
- Fears in the hat
- Appreciations/affirmations
- Active listening
- I-messages
- Restating other’s viewpoint / modeling opposite views
- Support groups / Caucuses
- Venting emotions somewhere else
- Gripe sessions – share feelings
- Resentment sharing
- Fishbowls
- Spectrums
- Expulsion based on agreements