Consensus in Large Groups

Consensusdecisionmakingiswidelyusedingrassrootsgroupsacrosstheglobe,butpeople oftenassumeit'saprocessthatcanonlyworkwithasmallgroupofpeople.Thisbriefing givesyousometoolsyoucanusetomakeconsensusworkwithlargergroups. Formoreinformationaboutwhatconsensusisandhowitworks,seeourConsensus DecisionMakingbriefing.YoumayalsofinditusefultoreadourbriefingsonFacilitation andOrganisingSuccessfulMeetings.

Conditions for using consensus

Beforetryingtouseconsensusinanygroup,youneedtomakesurethatcertainconditionsaremet. Theseareparticularlyimportantinalargegroupmeetingorspokescouncil(see'Toolsforworking inlargegroups'): Common Goal:Everyonepresentatthemeetingneedstohavesomecommongroundwhetherit's thedesiretotakeactionataspecificevent,orasharedethos.Obviouslymorepeopleatameeting meansmoreopinions.Sofindingthecommongoalandbringingthegroupbacktoitwhen differencesarisecankeepameetingfocusedandunited. Commitment to consensus building: Consensusrequirescommitment,patience,toleranceanda willingnesstoputthegroupfirst.Itwouldbeeasytocallforavoteatthefirstsignofdifficulty,and inalargegrouptherewillbedisagreementandconflict.Butintheconsensusmodel,disagreement canbeusedasatoolforhelpingtobuildastrongerfinaldecision! Sufficient time:Alldecisionmakingtechniquesneedenoughtimeifthequalityofdecisionis goingtobegood.Consensusisnodifferentitneedsenoughtimebothformakingdecisionsandfor learningtoworkbyconsensus.Ininternationalgroupsyoumightalsoneedtoallowtimefor translation.Inspokescouncilsyouneedtoallowtimeforaffinitygroupstoconsultandcometotheir ownconsensus. Clear Process:It'sessentialthatthewholegrouphasasharedunderstandingoftheprocessthat themeetingisusingrememberthattherearevariationsoftheconsensusprocess,soevenifpeople havealotofexperienceofusingconsensustheymayuseitdifferentlytoyou!Theremaybeagroup agreementorgroundrulesinusethatneedexplaining(see'Facilitatingconsensusinlargegroups'). Stickingupalargepieceofpaperwithaflowchartoftheconsensusprocesswillhelppeopleto rememberwhichstageoftheprocessyouareat.Itmightalsobeworthexplainingtheconsensus modelatthebeginningofthemeeting,especiallyiftherearenewpeopleinthegroup. Good facilitation and active participation:Appointingoneormorefacilitatorscanhelpyour largegroupmeetingrunmoresmoothly.Thefacilitatorsaretheretoensurethatthegroupworks harmoniously,creativelyanddemocratically.They'realsotheretomakesurethetaskofthemeeting getsdonethatdecisionsaremadeandimplemented.Tomakethatpossibletheyneedactivesupport fromeveryonepresent!
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Tools for working in large groups

Small group to large group consensusbeginswiththewholegroupdiscussingtheissue, highlightingproblemsandthendrawingupalistofpossibleproposals.Thenpeoplesplitintosmall groupsanddiscusstheproposals(eachgroupexploringalltheproposals,oreachgrouptakingaway justoneproposalandexaminingitinmoredepth).Thesmallgroupsreturntothemainforumand reportback,highlightingpossibleobstaclestoeachproposal.Iffullgroupdiscussioncannotresolve theobstacles,thesmallgroupsgoawaytotryandfindwaysofsolvingtheproblem.Theyreport back,andthisprocesscontinuesuntiltheobstaclesareovercome,andadecisionismade.Thistool caneasilybecombinedwithaspokescouncil(seebelow). The Spokes councilisoneofthemostcommontoolsformakingconsensusdecisionsinlarge groups.Inaspokescouncil,smallergroupscometogethertomakeshareddecisions.Eachgroupis representedbytheir'spoke'theycommunicatetothemeetingthroughhimorher,allowing hundredsofpeopletoberepresentedbyfewervoices.Whatthespokeisempoweredtodoisupto theiraffinitygroup.Spokesmayneedtoconsultwiththeirgroupbeforediscussingoragreeingon certainsubjects. Hereisanoutlineprocessforaspokescouncilthatusesthesmalltolargegrouptechniqueabove: (Note:step1and2canalsotakeplaceinadvancewithintheindividualsmallgroups) 1. WholegroupIntroducetheissueandgiveallthenecessaryinformation 2. Explainboththeconsensusandthespokescouncilprocess 3. Formintosmallgroupsthesecouldbearandomselectionofpeopleatthemeeting,existing affinitygroups,orgroupsbasedonwherepeopleliveorbasedonasharedlanguage. 4. Thesmallgroupsdiscusstheissue,gatherideasanddiscussprosandconscomingupwithoneor moreproposals. 5. Eachsmallgroupsselectsaspokeapersonfromtheirgroupthatwillrepresentthegroup'sview atthespokescouncil.Smallgroupsdecidewhetherthespokeisamessengerforthegroupe.g. relaysinformationbetweenthesmallgroupandthespokescouncilorwhetherthespokecan makedecisionsonthegroup'sbehalfatthespokescouncil. 6. Spokesfromallgroupscometogetherinthespokescouncil.Theyinturnpresenttheviewoftheir group.Thespokesthenhaveadiscussiontotryandincorporatethevariousproposalsintoone workableidea.Duringthisprocessthespokesmayneedtocalltimeouttoreferwiththeirgroups forclarificationortoseewhetheramodifiedproposalwouldbeacceptabletothem.Itis importantforthespoketospeakonthebehalfofthegroupandnottopresenttheirownpersonal pointofview. 7. Oncethespokescouncilhascomeupwithoneormorepossibleproposalsthespokesmeetwith theirgroupsandcheckforagreementandobjections.Groupscanalsosuggestfurther modificationsoftheproposals. 8. Spokesmeetbackatthespokescouncilandcheckwhetherthegroupsagree.Ifnotallgroups agree,thediscussioncontinues. Tomakethespokescouncilmoreaccountableandreducetheneedforrepeatinginformation,the
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spokescouncilcantakeplaceinthefishbowlformat(seebelow),withthegroupssittinginanouter circlearoundthespokes.Eachgroupcansitdirectlybehindtheirspoke,whichmakesiteasierforthe spoketoquicklycheckbackwiththeirgroup. Fish bowl:Afewpeoplesitinaninnercircleanddiscussthesubjectathand.Theyareobservedby therestofthegroup,whoformacirclearoundthem.Onlythepeopleinthefishbowlareallowedto speak.Themakeupoftheinnercirclecanvarybutshouldprobablybearepresentativesampleofthe opinionsinthegroup.Thefishbowlregulatesthenumberofpeoplewithaccesstothediscussion, andallowseveryoneelsetoobserveeasily.Oncethefishbowlarrivesataproposal,thisisthenput tothewholegroupforagreement. Thereareseveralvariationstoafishbowl.Inonethoseinthemiddlecanonlyparticipateinthe discussionforalimitedamountoftime,orforthedurationofonediscussionitem.Inanothernew peoplecanjointheinnergroupbytheinvitationofthatgroupandmustleaveagainwhentheoriginal groupaskthemto.Anothervariationhasonemorechairintheinnercirclethantherearepeople. Anyonecangoandsitintheemptyseat,butwhentheydososomeoneelsemustleavethecircleso thatonechairremainsemptyatalltimes.Spokescouncilmeetingsareoftenheldinafishbowl format. 2, 4, 8 consensusisanexcellenttoolforprioritisinginlargegroups.Thisexercisewilltaketime, butwillhelpagroupreachadecisionthateveryonecanlivewith!Itsusuallybesttoimposetight timelimitsateverystageofthisdiscussion! Drawupalistofproposalsinthewholegroup. Formpairs.Eachpairdiscussesthelistofpossibleproposalsandisaskedtoagreetheirtop3 priorities(itcouldbeanynumber,butforthisexamplewe'lluse3). Eachpairthencomestogetherwithanother,toformagroupof4.The2pairscomparetheirlists oftop3prioritiesand,afterdiscussion,agreeonajointtop3. Eachgroupof4comestogetherwithanothertoformagroupof8.Again,eachgrouptakesits2 listsofprioritiesandreducesittoonelistof3. Repeatuntilthewholegrouphascomebacktogetherandhasasharedlistofjust3priorities. The double go-roundallowseveryonetocontributetothediscussionandtoheareveryoneelse's opinion.Themeetinglistenstoeveryoneexpresstheiropinioninturn.Eachpersonhasthesame amountoftimetospeak.Unlikeanormalgoround,theexercisedoesn'tfinishonceeveryonehas spoken.Insteadthegoroundcontinuesallowingpeopletorespondtowhattheyhaveheard.The meetingkeepsgoingrounduntilconsensusisreached.Thistoolisgreatformakingsureeveryone's voiceisheard.Itdoeshowevertaketime,thatyouneedtoplanfor.Forexampleifyouhavethirty peopleandalloweveryonetospeakfor2minuteseachyouneedonehourperround.

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Facilitating consensus in large groups

Asmentionedabovegoodfacilitationisessentialforworkinginlargegroup.Herearesomesimple toolsformakinglargemeetingsmoreparticipatoryandeffective. The meeting venue:Whereveryoumeetit'simportantthatthespace,andthewayyouusethe spacedoesn'tisolateoralienateanybody.Iseveryoneabletohearandseeclearly?Someroomshave verybadacousticsthatrequirepeopletoshouttobeheard.Othershavefixedseatingorcolumnsthat restrictpeople'sviewandtheirabilitytoparticipate.Isthevenueaccessibletoeveryone?Isit reasonabletoaskeveryonetostandforlongmeetings,orsitonthefloor?Canyouopenwindowsfor freshair?What'sthelightinglike? Translation: Formanyinternationalactionsandgatheringsyou'llneedtobeawareoflanguage barriers.Don'tassumeeveryonecanunderstand.Youmightjustneedtoaskpeopletospeakmore slowly,oryoumightneedtranslationintooneormorelanguages. Facilitation roles:Onefacilitatorisrarelyenoughforalongmeetingwithalargegroup.Forma facilitationteamtocoverthefollowingroles: Facilitator helpsthegroupdecideonandkeeptothestructureandprocessofthemeeting. Thismeansrunningthroughtheagendapointbypoint,keepingthefocusofthediscussiononone itematatime,regulatingtheflowofthediscussionandmakingsureeveryoneparticipates.The facilitatoralsoclarifiesandsummarisespointsandtestsforconsensus. Co-facilitatorsomeonetostepinandfacilitateifthefacilitatorisflagging,orfeelsaneedto expresstheiropiniononanissue. Doorkeepermeetsandgreetspeopleonthewayintothemeeting.Thedoorkeepercancheck thateveryoneknowswhatthemeetingisforandhandoutanydocumentssuchasminutesfrom the last meeting. The role is especially important for making new people feel welcome, and bringinglatecomersuptospeedwithouthavingtointerruptthewholemeeting.Inaconsensus meeting, the doorkeeper can explain the consensus model to newcomers to ensure a shared understandingoftheprocess. Note taker notesdowntheproposalsandthekeydecisions.Theyalsodrawattentionto incompletedecisionsforexamplewhoisgoingtocontactsoandsoandwhen? Vibeswatcherwatchesthevibeofthemeetingtonoterisingtension,lackoffocus,flagging energyetc.Thevibeswatchercanthensuggestthatthegrouptakesappropriateaction,liketaking abreak. Stackerkeepsalistofwhoiswantingtospeakinthemeetingandensurestheyrecalledto speakinturn(seehandsignals). Timekeeper makes sure each agenda item gets enough time for discussion, and that the meetingfinishesattheagreedtime. Breaks:Takingabreakcanrevitaliseameeting,reducetension,andgivepeopletimetoreflecton proposalsanddecisions.Planina15minutebreakatleastevery2hoursandtakespontaneous breaksifthemeetinggetstooheatedorattentionisflagging.

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Group agreements & ground rules:Agreeatthebeginningofthemeetingonhowthemeeting willberun.Thiscanpreventalotofproblemsfromoccurringinthefirstplace.Italsomakesit easierforthefacilitatorstochallengedisruptivebehaviourlateron,astheycanreferbacktowhat weallagreed.Possiblegroundrulesmightincludeusingconsensus;usingagreedhandsignals;not interruptingeachother;activeparticipation;challengingoppressivebehaviour;respectingopinions; stickingtoagreedtimelimitsandswitchingoffmobilephones.Drawupgroupagreementsatthe beginningofthemeeting. Clear agenda:Havinganagreedmeetingagendacanhelpmakeameetingrunmoresmoothly.It canbeworthtakingtimetosortouttheagendaatthestart,beingrealisticaboutwhatcanbeachieved inthetimeyou'vegot,andwhatneedstobedealtwithatalatermeeting.Settingtimelimitsoneach agendaitemcanhelpthemeetingendontime.Makesurethateveryonehasanuptodatecopyofthe agendaorwriteituponaflipchartforeveryonetosee.Thishelpstokeepthediscussionontopic. Hand signals:areanothersimpletechniquethatcanmakemeetingsrunmoresmoothlyandhelp thefacilitatorspotemergingagreementsandcommonground.Therearemanyhandsignalsinuse werecommendthefollowingones: Raiseahandorforefingerwhenyouwishtocontributetothediscussion. Ifyourpointisdirectlyrelevant,raisebothforefingers.Thisallowsyoutojumptotheheadofthe queue,infrontofallthosepeopleraisingjustonefinger.Thisisopentoabuseandrequiresstrict facilitation. Silentapplausewhenyouhearanopinionwithwhichyouagreeyoucansimplywaveahand withyourfingerspointingupwards.Youcanexpressdisagreementbywavingyourhandwith fingerspointingdown.ThissavesthegroupalotoftimewithpeoplechippingintosayIdjust liketoaddthatIagreewith. Ablockorvetoisexpressedbyaraisedfist. Consensus training:Runningpremeeting'introductiontoconsensus'sessionscanmakemeetings moreinclusiveforeveryone,andavoidconflictthatarisesfromamisunderstandingoftheprocess. For more briefings on grassroots activism, and to find out about training workshops look at our website:

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