QUESTION:
I'm facilitating a group that has a history of disagreeing about everything! Any ideas on how to build some group concensus?

Vicki Luther
Co-Director
I think your group might benefit from brainstorming a list of topics on which they do agree. If they could build a list like that, it would offer a new image of the group as one that does, in fact, have some history of agreement. You have to start somewhere!

Milan Wall
Co-Director
One excellent technique is to frame a question related to your topic and ask individuals to answer it first by writing down a few sentences. Then each individual shares with a partner, then the whole table and finally with the entire group.

Reggi Carlson
Development Specialist
Why not take some time to review the group’s purpose? If you take the time to wrestle through an agreement on the purpose, you can deal with disagreement by using that purpose as a reference. Does this agreement put us in line with our purpose? Having an agreed upon agenda for a meeting can serve the same purpose, too, and give you another reference point to deal with disagreements.