Drivers for Change – Build Consensus
Equity Framework > Drivers for Change > Build Consensus
Consensus is a participatory process by which a group works together to reach their decision. Consensus-based decision making is a way of reaching some form of agreement between all members of a group. Instead of voting for an item and going with the majority decision, a group using consensus finds solutions that everyone can support, or at least accept. This approach ensures that all opinions, ideas, and concerns are taken into account. Through listening and learning from each other, groups that build consensus aim to develop proposals that work for everyone.
Adapted from:
Consensus Decision Making, Seeds for Change. Retrieved from
https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/consensus
Howard, N. (1997). Kaner, Sam with Jenny Lind, Catherine Toldi, Sarah Fisk and Duane Berger. Facilitator’s guide to participatory decision-making. Counterpoise, 1(1), 22.https://www.storypikes.com/workshops/PDFs/Facilitators%20Guide%20to%20Participation%20by%20Sam%20Kaner%20with%20Lenny%20Lind-Catherine%20Toldi-Sarah%20Fisk%20and%20Duane%20Berger-2007.pdf
Further Reading / Additional Resources:
Seed for Change. Consensus Decision Makingt:
https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/consensus#flowchart
Allies for Racial Equity: Consensus Decision-Making Flow Chart
https://www.uuare.org/consensus
Sample Tools:
This Flow Chart outlines the stages of consensus decision-making. The process isn’t always as linear as these models suggest, but having these stages in mind can help move forward while trying to meet group members’ need. Seed for Change. Consensus Decision Making: https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/consensus#flowchart
The Gradients of Agreement is a group decision support tool described in The Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision Making. It describes an 8-point scale for expressing a response to a decision.