Mastering Consensus Building: Embracing Diversity and Differences

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. My Journey to Consensus Building
3. The Quaker Way
4. Understanding Consensus
5. Different Types of Decision Making
6. The Importance of Diversity in Consensus Building
7. Leveling Power Dynamics
8. Embracing Differences
9. Tips for Building Consensus
10. Conclusion

My Journey to Consensus Building

When I was 18, I had a strong desire to become a Christian counselor and Show everyone that Jesus was the answer to their problems. This led me to attend Austin College, not because it was rife with heathens, but because I was curious and wanted to encounter a world different than my own. However, my experiences in college led me down a different path than I had anticipated. I changed my major from psychology to religion, traveled to India to study Hinduism, and spent a semester abroad in the United Kingdom where I encountered a diverse range of religious practices. Through these experiences, I became more deeply rooted in my own tradition and began to redefine my beliefs and the egalitarian values I wanted to embody and share.

The Quaker Way

During my studies, I was particularly struck by the Quakers, also known as the Society of Friends. The Quakers sit in silence in a circle until moved to speak. They believe that all people hold the light of God within us, so no strict hierarchy of leadership is necessary. To make decisions, they Gather in a group and believe that together, the group can discern a truth that exceeds the understanding of one individual. In other words, by seeking a group's collective wisdom, the solution can be greater than the sum of its parts. They don't use majority rule, which excludes some people while empowering others. Instead, they make decisions by consensus.

Understanding Consensus

Consensus is a decision-making model used by many groups and organizations, even governments around the world. Most simply, consensus is a general agreement. It is derived from the Latin "constantire," which means to agree to feel together. Consensus is not the same as a unanimous vote, nor is it majority rule. It's an alternative to majority rule.

Different Types of Decision Making

There are different types of decision making, and the most familiar one is majority rule. This is where whatever gets the most votes wins, and those who don't agree with the majority lose. Compromise is an alternative that might seem to satisfy more people, but often whittles away at different solutions, weakening both and landing somewhere in the middle. Consensus, on the other HAND, seeks a decision or solution that satisfies all people present. There's often not a predetermined outcome, and the process is open.

The Importance of Diversity in Consensus Building

To build consensus, it's essential to be intentional about who is invited to the table. It's not just the power holders who should be invited, but a diversity of people with a wide variety of expertise and lived experience. Their input should be valued equally, and they should enter into discussion in good faith for a common cause and share from their own experiences. This takes more time but enhances the decision-making capacity of the group, resulting in a creative solution everyone supports.

Leveling Power Dynamics

Another important aspect of building consensus is leveling the power dynamics. A simple way to do this is to use first names instead of titles. People should come together as their full selves, not as the position they hold or the organization they represent. It helps to use first names and remove formalities. By bringing your full self to the table, not just the position or profession you represent, you're more likely to build consensus and arrive at a creative and inclusive solution.

Embracing Differences

In building consensus, it's crucial to Create space for people to bring their full authentic selves to the table. People should be able to speak candidly from their own lived experiences. Most importantly, allow room for difference because it's when we can be our authentic selves that we learn the most from each other. Listening is the key step, active reflective listening, before we even begin to move toward building an agreement.

Tips for Building Consensus

1. Be intentional about who is invited to the table.
2. Level the power dynamics by using first names.
3. Create space for people to be themselves and speak candidly from their own lived experiences.

Conclusion

Consensus building is a process that's been around for centuries, a more inclusive and creative way of decision making. It's about building relationships, inviting diverse perspectives and backgrounds, and sharing from our own experiences. By taking the time to get to know each other and build stronger communities, we can find solutions greater than the sum of their parts.