Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Colors of Consensus

[Rob Sandelin (Floriferous]

The way the colors of consensus works is that there are different stages that 
people are at on any given issue. For example, a person who needs more 
information is at a different place, than the person who is ready to decide. 
There is also a heirarchy involved, a person needing information is more 
important than a person who already knows the issue and has an opinion.

It seems to be employed mostly by groups of 50 or more that use large group 
meetings for consensus, although smaller group can use it, few do. I have seen 
it work very effectively in the groups that really understand it is purpose 
and heirarchy, and have also seen groups really struggle with it, mostly 
because of misuse of the colors, ala people using a question color to state 
their opinion. 

It is a good tool, but it requires a fair amount of training and commitment by 
the members to make it work. There are other consensus tools that are easier 
to learn and use, such as the fingers, breaking into subgroups, two-cents, 
etc.

Rob Sandelin
Northwest Intentional Communities Assocation
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From:   cohousing-l [at] freedom.mtn.org on behalf of Judy
Sent:   Tuesday, February 25, 1997 10:20 PM
Subject:        Re: Colors of Consensus

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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