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To begin using the consensus decision model in your association, practice
by trying it with a simple decision or issue (such as what date to have
the annual picnic), instead of an emotional or heated issue (such as whether
or not to allow recreational vehicles to park in the yards). The consensus
model creates an openness which allows for incorporating everyone s work
or comments.
Basic Steps
Before being able to successfully use the consensus building model, it
is important for all participants to feel comfortable and "safe",
knowing that their opinions will count and are encouraged. Team building
exercises may need to be used.
1. Have the group determine its operating guidelines. For example:
a) one person has the floor at a time
b) respect each other s opinion
c) deal with the issue, not the personality
d) each person's remarks/comments are limited to one minute) no war
stories
f) listen to what is being said -- it is not necessary to repeat what
has already been stated
g) no smoking during the meeting
These guidelines should be posted at all the meetings. This can be
done by putting them on a poster or printing them on the back of the meeting
agenda.
2. Consider the meeting location and set up. Your meeting location and
set up needs to be comfortable and allow everyone to see and participate.
3. State the issue to be discussed clearly and concisely. Ask if everyone
understands the issue as stated. You may even want to write it down and
ask if anyone has any changes, additions, deletions, etc.
4. Identify common grounds or decisions relating to the issue at hand
that members can agree to, such as the members want to maintain strong
property values, want safe streets, or want to stop speeding through the
neighborhood.
5. Break the issue down in easy-to-review-and-discuss segments instead
of trying to tackle the whole issue. By breaking it down into smaller
components, it may be easier to come to consensus and then to continue
to build until the whole issue has been addressed, and a consensus has
been reached.
6. Summarize what a person has said and be sure to ask if there is anything
else the individual wants to add or share.
7. Be sure to continue to summarize and repeat what has been decided
to ensure all the participants understand and are in agreement.
8. When you reach an impasse or disagreements, ask those involved what
it would take to make them happy and continue to negotiate with the parties
until a consensus has been reached.
9. Once a consensus has been made, be sure to repeat the decision and
ask for a vote. Summarize the action and the future steps to be taken
with the decision or issue.
If there is an individual who refuses to move on or to cooperate and
continues to repeat his points, the best way to handle this type of person
is to take a break for a few minutes and ask the person to take a walk
with you. Ask that person for help in moving the meeting or decision process
along. Find out what it would take to come to a compromise. Hopefully,
you can come to an agreement. If you are unable, and the rest of the group
is willing to move forward, you may have to face the fact that you will
not be able to include this person in building a consensus on the issue.
It is difficult to conduct consensus building with large groups. This
model is ideal in groups of less than 20. For groups with more than 20,
it is recommended that a subcommittee is formed involving people on both
side of the issue. Build a consensus and come back to the larger group
for discussion and consensus building. When the group is too large, it
can take hours, if not days, to build a consensus.
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