Consensus decision making

Some key points taken from a description of consensus decision making processes by Seeds for Change:

Agreement between all members to find solutions everyone supports (or can live with)
Encourages close listening and ensuring everyone’s voices are heard

Shared power – taking collective control over decisions
Building trust and community – respect and deep listening are foundations
Better decisions – weaving together everyone’s ideas and concerns
Getting things done – active commitment because everyone has formed the decision
Protecting minority needs and opinions

Common goal – having shared overall objectives
Commitment to consensus – being prepared to do the work of listening and collaborating all the way to solution
Trust and openness – honesty about needs vs preferences, flexibility, implementing decisions
Sufficient time – taking the time to make good decisions
Clear process – shared understanding of the decision making process
Active participation – listening to everyone and voicing our own thoughts
Good facilitation – helps the group work harmoniously, creatively and democratically
Knowing who should be included – ideally involving everyone who is impacted by the outcome

Agreement – “I support the proposal and am willing to implement it.”
Reservations – “I still have some problems with the proposal, but I’ll go along with it.”
Standing Aside – “I can’t support this proposal because… but I don’t want to stop the group, so I’ll let the decision happen without me and I won’t be part of implementing it.”
Blocking – “I have a fundamental disagreement with the core of the proposal that has not been resolved. We need to look for a new proposal.“