Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Colors of Consensus

[Judy (BAXTER]

Donna Spreitzer from Toronto wrote: 

One of our members has suggested that we consider using the 5 color, non-linear
approach to reach consensus. It has certain appeal, yet we were wondering if
the original group(s) who used this process still employ it.  I think Winslow
was the group that wrote about it years ago in the Coho magazine.  Our
questions are: 
1.  Do you still use it?  If not, why not?
2.  How do you ensure that people bring their cards?  (this is an issue since
we're not "living" it yet.)
3.  Have you revised it in any way?
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I'd forgotten all about that.  We tried it for a while - it seemed very
cumbersome to me, shuffling the cards and trying to remember the codes.  We
didn't use it very long.   

We use a "fist-to-five" approach for testing for consensus - plus a time-out
sign for interrupting for process observations, etc. Iit doesn't include
some of the distinctions that the colors did, but I've forgotten them. It is
easy to see where we are with this -  1 to 5 represent different degrees of
agreement, with 1 essentially saying I don't agree but won't block, and 5 being
total agreement with the proposal.  We usually discuss 1's and 2'1.  Fist is a
block, and is a BIG deal.  It works pretty well for us.  

Judy

Judy Baxter, Monterey Cohousing Community,(MoCoCo) Twin Cities Area, Mpls.,MN
-- e-mail:      baxter [at] epivax.epi.umn.edu
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