Cohousing-L Mailing List: When you are stuck in a decision

[Rob Sandelin (floriferous]

This is response to Becky Shallers email about several hours of process over
a decision to create a wall, and then a roadmap of how to make a decision.

In my opinion, your problem is that you are probably using the wrong
decision making process. Consensus is often not a good choice for cohousing
groups, because they do not have membership that has the humility, or the
patience, to work it out. Couple with sporadic attendance, inappropriate
behaviors, and you will get stuck in the mud.

I highly recommend a clear path to a majority voting situation for cohousing
groups. A good one is, two tries at consensus, the third time is a 3/4
majority vote.  This clears out those who want to control things by using
consensus blocking as a whip to get their way, and FORCES them to cooperate,
or lose the vote.

I really wish people could get over this FEAR of voting. It is a very
functional cooperative process, that can save many dysfunctional consensus
processes.

Cooperation runs really smoother when controlling personalities know their
are limits to what they can get away with.

Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood
---
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.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/cohousing-l