Cohousing-L Mailing List: An important Quaker attribute of Consensus

[Rob Sandelin (floriferous]

If I were to define two foundational parts of consensus, one would be trust.
The other would be humility. The humility part is a key attribute that the
Friends bring to the process,and one that is typically missing from
middle-class America's involvement with consensus. Humility applies itself
in many ways to successful consensus process:
* My ideas/opinions are limited to what I have experienced.
* Listening to others for meaning and empathy
* letting go of my agenda and giving freely to the group
* Being open to the outcome
* Resisting judgment
* Enhancing awareness of the importance of others ideas

In my own personal group work, ego  control is job #1. I often itch to step
into places where I know I have an answer that would work. I have learned
that what I know sometimes has to be learned by others through their own
experiences. Then I need to bury that little devil called, I told you so,
and give  empathy when the learning is painful. Advice not asked for is
advice ignored.

Rob Sandelin
South Snohomish County at the headwaters of Ricci Creek
Sky Valley Environments  <http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm>
Field skills training for student naturalists
Floriferous [at] msn.com


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.332 / Virus Database: 186 - Release Date: 3/6/02

_______________________________________________
Cohousing-L mailing list
Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org  Unsubscribe  and other info:
http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L