{"id":143,"date":"2012-05-06T18:17:21","date_gmt":"2012-05-06T18:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sbassoc.org\/?page_id=143"},"modified":"2012-05-17T04:29:31","modified_gmt":"2012-05-17T04:29:31","slug":"consensus-decision-making","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sbassoc.org\/?page_id=143","title":{"rendered":"Consensus Decision-making"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Consensus Decision-making&#8230;.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Consensus decision-making is defined by Webster\u2019s Dictionary and Wikipedia as a group decision process that seeks the consent (not necessarily the agreement) of participants and the resolution of objections to the decision. Consensus \u00a0is used to describe both the decision (e.g. \u201ca consensus decision was made\u201d) and the process of reaching a decision. Consensus is not the same as unanimity or solidarity but in SB&amp;A\u2019s experience, consensus does not preclude the possibility of achieving unanimity or solidarity.<\/p>\n<p>There are many different interpretations of the word \u201cconsensus\u201d and many different processes described as a consensus process. In fact there are so many differences that ironically, lack of agreement about the definition of consensus and the process for achieving it can in itself become an issue that precludes achieving consensus! However, it is SB&amp;A\u2019s belief that this \u201cunnecessary complexity\u201d of defining what is and is not consensus should not result in abandoning the consensus approach or the devaluing of the major benefits it can bring to decision-making and the ultimate success achieved in implementing the decisions.<\/p>\n<p>SB&amp;A\u2019s definition of consensus decision-making is far broader than a process. SB&amp;A believes consensus decision-making is a philosophy or a state of being\u2026 a way of thinking, being in relationship and working together. When the consensus process is simple, straighforward, applied fairly, respectfully and in response to the group members\u2019 direction it fosters increased empathy, confidence and the ability to listen, understand different points of view, innovate, creatively problem-solve, embrace the risk-rewards of change and effectively lead in the implementation of the ultimate decision.<\/p>\n<p>SB&amp;A\u2019s consensus decision-making process:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>All group members agree to make consensus decisions as often as possible.<\/li>\n<li>Further, the group agrees that if it finds that a particular consensus decision is too time consuming it can use a different process for that one decision (e.g 2\/3 vote). The group understands the consequences of departing from consensus on the ultimate outcome of its entire process.<\/li>\n<li>Consensus decisions mean that every person in the group agrees to allow the decision to be made and thus move forward. The decision requires a clear and active \u201cyes\u201d from everyone in order to move forward.<\/li>\n<li>A \u201cyes\u201d response means the participant will fully support the decision or, at a minimum, will do nothing to undermine it or its success.\u00a0 An abstention is considered the same as a \u201cyes.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>A \u201cno\u201d response is given only if the participant feels he\/she is prepared to stop the group from further considering the decision option or making the decision.<\/li>\n<li>If a \u201cno\u201d response prohibits the group from resolving the overarching issue or project that caused it to form, the group will then decide how it will proceed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Effective consensus decision-making requires dialogue, sometimes rigorous and respectful debate, time,thought and energy. In the initial stages, consensus decision-making may be a slower process than a win\/lose voting process but with practice consensus decisions are typically as fast or faster. This is because the participants have come to fully understand one another\u2019s interests and needs and have learned to generate solutions that accommodate everyone\u2019s interests rather than just their own and to generate solutions that are far more creative. The benefits of working through the consensus process is that it typically results in decisions that have a greater chance of enduring, a greater sense of accomplishment by the group members, a greater sense of team and a greater commitment to seeing the decision succeed.<\/p>\n<p>SB&amp;A recommends that client groups operate by consensus. However, from the beginning, group\u2019s members decide their own decision-making process and assume responsibility for the definition of success for their work outcomes.<\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Consensus Decision-making&#8230;. Consensus decision-making is defined by Webster\u2019s Dictionary and Wikipedia as a group decision process that seeks the consent (not necessarily the agreement) of participants and the resolution of objections to the decision. Consensus \u00a0is used to describe both the decision (e.g. \u201ca consensus decision was made\u201d) and the process of reaching a decision. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":54,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-143","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sbassoc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sbassoc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sbassoc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sbassoc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sbassoc.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=143"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/sbassoc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/143\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":315,"href":"https:\/\/sbassoc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/143\/revisions\/315"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sbassoc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sbassoc.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}