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Tips on Clarifying Responsibilities and Process
 When trying to make decisions in a group, consider how the following tips might help to ensure that everyone feels involved and heard while moving things along more efficiently.
At the end of a group decision-making process, each member of the group should be able to say:
- The issues I care most about have been discussed
- I believe the group has heard my interests, and worked to address them
- I can support the group's decision as the best possible one at this time (even if it is not my first choice)
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- Jointly create a statement that frames the problem in such a way that it's solution can meet everyone's interests (e.g., How can we..., while also ....?). Consider posting this "problem statement" where everyone can see it during the discussion.
- Limit actual decision-making to the smallest, most manageable, and most appropriate group possible. Consider first discussing with the group:
- Who must be a final decision maker
- Who should act as an advisor and be consulted throughout the process
- Who should remain informed by periodically reviewing drafts and providing comment
- Always try to determine how decisions will be made before jumping in to the substance of the issue (e.g., simple majority, supra majority, consensus, etc.).
To make this a well-informed decision, it might be helpful to provide some clarification on what "consensus" is and is not and some of the issues inherent in voting.
Thoughts on Consensus
- Consensus is an agreement among all the members of a group, rather than just some.
- A consensus-building process requires good faith effort to meet the interests of all stakeholders
- Participants should have:
- The right to expect no one will ask them to undermine their own interests.
- A responsibility to propose solutions that meet others' interests as well as their own.
- Consensus means everyone can live with an agreement and no one dissents .
- Consensus does not mean unanimous support.
- Contrary to popular belief, consensus processes do not have to take forever, lead to gridlock, or lead to the lowest common denominator solutions.
Some problems with voting:
- Majority has significantly less incentive to address the interests of stakeholders in the minority.
- Outcome is often zero sum (win-lose).
- Solutions may be less wise and less durable.
- Decisions might not be able to be carried out if someone in the minority can block implementation.
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This site was developed by the Ecosystem Management Initiative through a partnership with the US Forest Service and the US Department of Interior. Read more.
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