Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: 2nd level decision making

[Robert Hartman (hartman]

> The Tucson Cohousing group is looking for information about
> 2nd level decision making processes. (Majority vote, or concensus minus one)
> for use when concensus can not be reached.
> 
> Have other grouos developed a fall back process?

Off the top of my head, I'd suggest using a cooling-off period when
consensus can't be reached in a given meeting.  Usually when there is a
strong or principled conflict, people need time to understand the
contrary view and let it sink in.

If someone blocks consensus and won't budge, it's often because they
don't want to be pushed into something they don't understand or aren't
ready for.  Given a few days or a week, they might come around, or the
group might come around to their view.  I've seen that happen.

Agreeing on all aspects of an issue that can be agreed on in one
sitting is a good start.  Allowing people to mull over the parts that
can't be decided right then takes the pressure off everyone, and gives
people on all sides room to change their minds.

I think that it is very rare that consensus can't work.  If there
is an emergency or there just isn't time, all-but-one is probably
better than majority vote.  It is the person blocking who is the most
vulnerable.  If she or he can convince one other person to hold the
line, IMHO it's probably better for the group to hold the line.

-r