A Tool for Evaluating Consensus Decision Making Practices

The following checklist can help observers and participants evaluate a group's effectiveness by observing how
frequently they use specific behaviors that are essential to consensus building.  Even experienced groups need to
assess their practices periodically.
 

For behaviors seen frequently, mark closer to the "F" on the lines below. For behaviors that
were seldom seen, mark closer to the "S". Make notes of specific behaviors you observed. If a
situation described below did not occur, write in "NA" for "not applicable."

Date of meeting providing data for your check list:
Name:
Group members:
 
 

             S-----------F Body language, facial expressions and statements suggested that members
                                          treated each other as reasonable people and listened respectfully to each
                                          other's ideas.

               S-----------F Members appeared to listen actively and accurately.
 

               S-----------F Speakers put forth information in a well-organized, well-reasoned way.
 

               S-----------F Individuals spoke only once on a topic until other members were heard.
 

               S-----------F Speakers addressed the group rather than another individual; there was no
                                    debate between individuals.

               S-----------F Group members were asked for their ideas or opinions.
 

               S-----------F Speakers were asked for facts, evidence or other information to back up their
                                    ideas.

               S-----------F Disagreements were handled respectfully.
 

               S-----------F Different ideas and opinions were freely expressed.
 

               S-----------F Differences in ideas and strategies were treated respectfully.
 

               S-----------F Elements of win/lose competition entered the group process.
 

               S-----------F Positive feelings (praise or appreciation) were offered to one or more group
                                    members.

               S-----------F  Negative feelings (anger, frustration or criticism) were not directed at one or more
                                   group members.

               S-----------F Concerns were withdrawn when new information or insights suggested a better
                                     way forward.

               S-----------F  Individuals appropriately offered the group special expertise or knowledge.

               S-----------F When needed, members asked for clarification or for more information from
                                      another speaker.

               S-----------F Group members built upon another's ideas or comments to propose a
                                     conclusion or direction for the group.

               S-----------F Group members attempted to re-focus the group on the task at hand.
 

               S-----------F  Someone made summarizing statements in order to help move the discussion
                                      forward within a particular agenda item.

               S-----------F One person was named as or emerged as convener or clerk in the group.
 

               S-----------F Members respected the convener or clerk's guidance on process.
 

              S-----------F  Convener/clerk  remained neutral about the content of decisions or asked
                                    someone else to  facilitate discussion  of an agenda item where  he/she had
                                     pertinent information or opinions.
 

               S-----------F  Convener/clerk adequately expressed group feeling or thoughts.
 

               S-----------F Convener/clerk identified who would speak next.
 

               S-----------F  Convener/clerk promoted relatively equal opportunities to speak so that no one
                                       dominated or rambled on.

               S-----------F  Convener/clerk asked questions that helped draw out a speaker's meaning.
 

               S-----------F  Convener/clerk kept the group on topic and task, including consulting members
                                        about moving on.

               S-----------F  Convener/clerk encouraged others to express differing viewpoints.

               S-----------F  Convener/clerk redirected attention to ideas and information that were previously
                                       disregarded by the group.

               S-----------F     When necessary, the convener/clerk called for silent pauses to restore the
                                        group to  its focus in the spirit of restoring thoughtful exploration of
                                        differences and conflict, not in the spirit of suppresssion of differences.

               S-----------F  Convener/clerk asked if enough alternatives have been developed, or if criteria for
                                        problem solution have been met.

               S-----------F  Convener/clerk proposed a "minute" that clearly stated the "sense of the group." Asked for
                                    response. If none came, explicitly asked for approval of the "minute."

               S-----------F  Group consensus was reached on an overall decision about what to do.
 

               S-----------F  Group consensus was reached on some specific point.
 

               S-----------F  If full decision was not reached, the convener/clerk summarized points of agreement
                                       identified  remaining issues to be  resolved, proposed a committee or group or other
                                      process for moving forward,  and tested this conclusion with the group.

© Quaker Foundations of Leadership, 1999
Earlham College
Richmond, IN 47374
USA
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