Formoreabout consensusandfacilitation:MAKINGNICE

DECISIONSWITH

CONSENSUS

Consensus decision making is away to actively participate indecisions that affect your life.Even in a democratic society,many decisions are made byjust a few individuals.Leaving the others feelingdisempowered,disinterested,despondant...

Free to choose your own path.

Consensus involves respect, trust,co-operation and mutual aid.It helps to empower individualsand build communities.The process generates creativesolutions that involve everybody.

It has been usedsuccessfully by nativeAmericans, utopiancommunities, andpolitical and socialactivists for manyyears.

TIPSSpeakupifyoudon'tunderstand.Beadaptableinyouropinions,tohelpthegroupreachagreement.Helpcreatearespectfulandtrustingatmosphere.Expressyouropinionsclearly,andasearlyaspossible.Listenactively;letothersfinishtheirpointandtaketimetoconsiderit.Practiseself-restraint,iswhatyouaregoingtosayhelpful?

Don'tbeafraidofdisagreement.Arangeofopinionsprovidesmorematerialforgoodsolutions.Theblockisastrengthofconsensus:itmeansindividuals'needscan'tbeignored.Ifblocksarehappeningcheckyou'reallsharinginformationanddiscussingthingsenough.Participate;speak,listen,proactivelylookforsolutionsthatincludeeveryone.

2012

M www.seedsforchange.org.uk

CONSENSUS PROCESS

Proposal: synthesizeideas and suggest

action.

Stand aside: don'tsupport the proposal,but do not preventothers going ahead.

Reservations: raisesome concerns, butallow proposal.

Agreement: supportproposal and willingto carry it out.

Block: a fundamentaldisagreement. Weneed to think again -find a new proposal.

Good FACILITATION meanssummarising ideas, checking vibes,managing process and time, andensuring everybody has a say.

Be OPEN and HONESTabout what you want, andwhat you need.

It takes TIME to makea good decision foreveryone.

Really LISTEN to whatpeople are saying, and try tounderstand their point of view.

We need toTRUST eachother to worktogether for aCOMMON GOAL.

Everyone agrees andunderstands a clearPROCESS, and commitsto using consensus.

CONDITIONS TO MAKE CONSENSUS WORK

GLOSSARY

www.seedsforchange.org.uk