Consensus Decision-Making

Grove Community School - Parent Council Training Workshop

Agenda

1. Introduction 2. Who's Here?3. Consensus Basics4. Dialogue for Consensus 5. Techniques for an Efficient  Council6. Tools for Effective Community Engagement 7. Community Meeting Scenario 8. Next Steps

9. Parents can talk to grade reps (OPTIONAL)

Introduction

Workshop Goal: Skills building among parents

Plan to create a Parent Council

Introduction

Jason Diceman&

Simone Arsenault-May

Who’s Here?

What is Consensus?

Democratic form of group decision-making that works best in small groups (less than 15).

Process: Creative and cooperative discussion of ideas and opinions.

Goal: Find the best solution that everyone can live with.

Equal opportunity to participate. Promote the growth of community

and build trust.

What Consensus is Not

Not necessarily unanimous agreement with 100% enthusiastic satisfaction.

Not voting on competing options (e.g. Robert’s Rules).

Not debating or bargaining to win your view.

Not going with the lowest common denominator.

Silence interpreted as consent. Not just going along with ‘the leader’.

Your Definition

Your group will create and agree upon your own working definition of

consensus, and when and how other kinds of decision-making will be used

e.g. voting, delegation.

Basic Steps of Consensus

1. Introduction: Presentation of issue to be addressed.

2. Clarification: Questions and information gathering.

3. Dialogue: Discussion of ideas and opinions towards the formation of a proposal.

4. Address Concerns: Ask for concerns with proposal and seek solutions.

5. Call for Consensus: Each member states their level of support for proposal.

If lacking support, further dialogue is likely required. Option to use alternative decision-making (e.g. delegate,

vote). Shelve the decision to be addressed at a later date.

Levels of Support

OPTIONS FOR EXAMPLE1 Support “I support the proposal as stated.”

2 Lukewarm Support

“I don't see the need for this, but I'll go along."

3 Support with Reservations

“I think this may be a mistake but I can live with it.”

4 Standing Aside "I personally can't do this, but I won't stop others from doing it.”

5 Blocking "I cannot support this and ask the group to not move forward with it."

6 Withdrawing from the Group

“I feel that this group does not and will not represent  my interests. I believe it is best if I leave the group at this point.”

Using Alternative Decision-Making

Conditions for using other forms of decision-making need to be determined in advance.

Participants should be sincerely seeking consensus, not sabotaging in order to force a vote.

When the decision at hand is very subjective it might be better to delegate.

When urgent decisions are required it may be better to delegate.

Dialogue for Consensus

Role Playing Dialogue vs. Debate:

What should be our special lunch day menu?

Dialogue DebateCooperative: building new ideas together

Competitive: one idea is going to win the debate

Grey areas: exploring complexity and looking for new perspectives

Black and white: polarizing issues into “us vs. them” or “this vs. that”

Everybody participates A few individuals speak

Sharing to create new meaning Focused on individual opinions

Speak for yourself Claiming to represent the opinions or interests of a group

Temporarily suspend judgment Jump to conclusions and generalizations

Critique ideas, not speakers Put down individuals if you disagree with their ideas

Listening to reach mutual understanding

Preparing for your turn to talk

Welcome silence in between comments

Interrupting and speaking over others

Equality of participation: Speak when you are moved to speak

Competing for air time

Tips for an Efficient  Council

Hard working and cooperative individuals

Experienced meeting chair person Consistent use of a discussion email

list (e.g. Yahoo Groups, Google Groups)

Up-to-date documentation on the web(e.g. Google Sites, WikiSpaces.com)

Simple web tools to help schedule meetings (e.g. Doodle.com, MeetingWizard.com)

Methods for Community Messages

Email list / e-newsletter Up-to-date website Take home letters Posters Bulletin Boards

Techniques for Community Engagement

‘One-window’ contacts One person and set of contact details

responsible for managing communication to and from the council

Promotes consistency and group accountability

Speak w/one voice - avoid conflicting messages

Online Surveys (e.g. SurveyMonkey.com)

Techniques for Community Engagement

Forums Open House Events Study Circles

Dotmocracy Sheets

Dotmocracy Wall

Dotmocracy Wall

Community Meeting Scenario

DEMONSTRATIONUse Dotmocracy sheets to recognize

agreements concerning:

What should our policy be for what students can

take to school?

Next Steps

Slides to be posted at www.cooptools.ca/groveworkshopsept29