Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: example of consensus success

[Eris Weaver (eris]

OK, here's my "come to jesus" moment about consensus.

My forming group was considering a particular property. It was an older
condo complex and the entire thing was up for sale fairly cheap. Advantages
- we could start moving in ASAP, fast, inexpensive. Disadvantages - in a
neighborhood some found less than desirable; giving up the dream of building
beautiful, solar, etc. We were evenly split and could not see any way to
make the decision.

We happened to have Rob Sandelin come during this time to do a consensus
workshop with us and we worked on this issue. He said we were asking the
wrong question - we were each consenting or blocking based on the question
"do *I* want to live on this property?" He said, consensus requires us to
ask the question, "Is it in the best interests of *the group as a whole* to
pursue this property, EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT I PERSONALLY WOULD LEAVE THE
GROUP?"

Thumbs up all around.

------------------------------
Eris Weaver, Facilitator & Group Process Consultant
Author, "Let's Talk About Money: A Conversation Guide for Intentional
Communities"
eris [at] erisweaver.info
707-338-8589
http://www.erisweaver.info
http://erisweaver.blogspot.com


fa cil' i tāt: to make easier