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Building Consensus – Another View
By Jody Levinson, TroutDream Graphics, Inc. Building consensus between a group of individuals can be a tricky business, particularly when they have opinions of their own. Even in an area such as running a large family or business, where the issues, although often complex, they can usually be obfuscated to the point of unintelligibility. Leading a group towards a consensus not only requires a good understanding of the topic, but also a comprehensive understanding of the potent tools available for building unassailable walls of consensus to your view. The following points identify some of the ways in which a leader can help to facilitate the consensus building process: 1. Yelling – This is a surprisingly effective method for determining an outcome and course of action. All else being equal, the one yelling the loudest obviously feels most passionately about the issue at hand and therefore, should prevail. 2. Pouting - where there is disagreement make sure you understand why each person is taking the position they do so that you can determine if pouting will be an effective tactic. This involves getting below the skin of your adversaries - I mean team. Subtlety is particularly important because you need to strike a balance between a moody silence that can simply be ignored and the steaming sighs and groans that encroach on the more obvious yelling technique but without the volume that makes yelling truly effective. 3. Slamming - It is amazing how often what appears to be a disagreement over a particular issue is actually due to people not paying attention to what you are saying. It is essential to identify that such a situation has arisen, and then draw the attention back to you. Slamming is a surprisingly varied and effective technique, not limited to the common door slam. Expand your range to include slamming of notebooks or heavy coffee mugs on tables, cabinet doors, even chairs or vases can be put into service. Repeat until silence descends on the room. 4. Oversimplify – People think problems are complex, and it is not unusual to find that where there is disagreement over an issue, the individuals involved are being confused by too many unimportant side issues. To achieve consensus it is necessary to be able to remove elements that don’t support your view from the issue and then lead the group to consensus. 5. Be aware of the clever adversary - where a problem needs to be resolved there may be another person who has read this article and not only has the same tactics at his disposal, but also is wise to you. When this happens it is not unusual for polarisation to occur with everyone else getting the hell out of the room. The group becomes so focussed on the battle that other combatants are ignored. Don’t worry about them. If they can’t take the heat, too bad. 6. Pull rank – This tactic should be used with extreme care. You have to determine if you either a) have rank or b) can, through the use of subterfuge and politics, convince the others that you have rank. 7. Go ahead and gloat – but be subtle. You’ve worked diligently, fought the hard battle, used all the varied tools at hand and now you have achieved the consensus so badly needed in your group – you deserve a moment to savour victory. But don’t overdo it. Your colleagues are slower to arrive at true understanding than you, so give them some time to catch up. Coming soon! Part II: Advanced Techniques – False rumors, veiled threats, feigned illness, flirting, and more! [24x7] |
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