1. Welcome to: We Can Live With That-- Strategies for Building Consensus
Leona Johnson, author of Interpersonal Relationships, Goodheart-Willcox, publisher.
Susan Turgeson, University Teacher Educator, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

2. Meet your presenters: Leona Johnson, Esko, MN
ED Specialist – Educational Leadership; MS in FCS Ed
Author: Interpersonal Relationships; Strengthening Family and Self
K-12 Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Ellsworth Community School District – 13 years
K-4 Principal – 3 years
FCS Instructor – 11 years

3. Meet Your Presenters: Dr. Susan Turgeson
ED.D. Ed Leadership in Higher Ed, MS FCS Ed
University Teacher Educator – University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
FCS Teacher –
Menomonie High School 5 years
Eau Claire Delong Middle School 1 year
Educational Author Consultant/Speaker -
Learning ZoneXpress 11 years

4. Definition of consensus building
A process in which a group works together to find a solution, solve a problem, or make a decision that is acceptable to all involved. (IR, Lesson 7.4)

5. Consensus building ----
IS NOT
IS NOT
A process in which a leader convinces everyone to follow his or her plan.
A vote in which the majority rules.

6. Consensus building is a process with parameters.
Goal is that everyone in the group will support the decisions that are made.
The decision needs to be acceptable and beneficial to all involved.
All members contribute to the solution.
All members participate in carrying out the plan.

7. Several steps in the consensus building process:
Goal setting –
Data collection –
Analysis –
Reflection –
Practical problem-solving
(Consensus Building Institute, Cambridge, MA)

8. Why Consensus Building?

9. Consensus-building skills can benefit every individual who works with other people.
Participating in groups
Leading small or large groups
Family groups
Community groups
Volunteer groups
Work groups
Leading group members to set goals.
Leading groups to make decisions.
Leading groups to solve problems.

10. Consensus building skills can used with varied age groups as well as multi-age groups.

11. Always remembering the parameters:
Data Collection - include information and input from all relevant sources, including group members
Analysis – Value input of all members; value all suggestions
Reflection - Help group members think about each suggestion.
Practical problem solving - Steer the group to consensus.

12. Application to financial areas:
Financial goal setting
Financial decision-making
Financial problem-solving.

13. Setting Group Goals
Goals give a group a sense of purpose and direction. (IR, Lesson 9.2)
Help people focus on why they are doing the activity.
Gather input from members as to why they think they are there.
Members can connect their personal goals with the group’s goals.

14. Goal Setting Scenario - Why should we work on a budget in the first place? How could a budget help us?
Brainstorm words that come to your mind related to budgeting. Put these on the board or a large piece of paper.
Then put the words “A budget will help us…..” on the board or paper, and ask each group member to provide a word that would help define why we should work on a budget in the first place and answer the question, “How could a budget help us?”
Have each person write their word(s) on a piece of paper and tape it to the board. (one word per card or sticky note)
Have each person put their note on the board (or table) in a line.
As each person adds their word, they can rearrange words that are already there.
Have individuals add words or take some out, as they create their goal.
Group should discuss each addition/deletion, and continue the process until they agree on the goal. (Thumbs up, Thumbs down strategy to gain consensus)

15. Summary: This consensus-building strategy works well when a group has to develop a mission statement or a goal statement. There is an assumption that they have some understanding or knowledge of the topic with which they are working.

16. Consensus Building in Decision-making

17. Steps in Decision-Making
The decision-making process is used for making group decisions as well as individual decisions.
(IR, chapter 4, lesson 4.2)
Step. 1 Identify the decision to be made.
Step 2. Identify all possible alternatives.
Step 3. Consider each alternative
Step 4. Make the decision.
Step 5. Carry out the decision.
Step 6. Evaluate the decision.

18. Data Collection, Analysis, and Reflection
A large step in building consensus when making decisions is getting all members on the same page.
Some type of education needs to occur about each other’s concerns, interests, viewpoints, and knowledge base.
Clarification of individual’s assumptions should also occur.

19. Strategies for data collection:
Gather input from each individual. Go around the group and have all members contribute ideas.
Brainstorm with the large group.
Have individuals or small groups research different aspects of the issue and share findings with the whole group.
Have small groups read and summarize a common source of information (research, articles, etc) about the topic or issue.
Have a guest speaker present information as an expert in the field.

20. Strategies for analysis:
Have all members review all data.
Have the group identify what is working well in your current situation. List these under Strengths.
Then have the group identify areas needing work. List these as Areas Needing Improvement.

21. Application to financial goal-setting scenario:
Data to review:
Where is money spent?
How much is being spent?
Is more being spent than earned?
How much is being saved?

22. Scenario: Before we move ahead with a budget, let’s look at the way we do things now.
What do you think works well with the way we spend money now? (Put all responses under the heading “Working well.”
What do you think is not working well with the way we spend money now? (Put all responses under “Not working.”
Have all members review spreadsheets of family spending for the last month. (next slide) Compare to original spending plan (IR text page 561)

23. Income = $2464 Expenses for the Last Month = $2511
Income = $2464 Expenses for the Last Month = $2511
Housing:
Rent - increased to $800 / month
Utilities:
Cell Phone (includes 10 gig data for Internet access) - new contract - $125
Electrical bill - $85
Cable - $45
Food:
Grocery Store - $430
Eating Out $150
Personal:
Health Insurance - $320
Clothing - $85 for new jeans
Movies - $16
Video game - $25
Transportation:
Car Payment - $350
Gas for car: $80
Savings this last month - 0

24. Data analysis and reflection
Ask group members to make comments about what they see. What positives do they see? (Add to list of “working well.”) What areas need improvement? (Add to list of “not working”.)

25. Practical Problem Solving. - (IR, chapter 9, lesson 9
Practical Problem Solving (IR, chapter 9, lesson 9.3) Step 1 Define the problem(s).
The result of the data collection, analysis, and reflection should be the identification of a problem(s) – what is not working well or areas that need improvement.

26. Prioritize areas needing improvement.
Put each area needing improvement on a card and have group members order them as they think they should be prioritized. (Put cards on board or table and have group members take turns moving a card to indicate a priority.)
Discussion should occur after each person moves or adds a card.
Keep rearranging until group agrees on the order.
(This strategy works well for prioritizing expenditures, goals for savings, etc. as a group.)

27. Step 2 in practical problem solving: identify alternatives.
Address one issue at a time.
Brainstorm for alternatives.
Research alternatives.
Share information with others.

28. Step 3: Explore pros and cons of each alternative.
Discuss the pros and cons of each alternative as each group or individual brings their research summary to the table.
Have presenters answer questions so all members develop similar background knowledge for the decision or problem at hand.
For areas needing more information, continue to gather input through research.

29. Step 4. Narrow down the options and make a decision.
Review the characteristics of each alternative.
Identify what aspects are acceptable by each participating member. (Thumbs up – agree/ good, sideways – ok, can live with it)

30. Step 4. Narrow down the options and make a decision.
Identify whether any cons cannot be tolerated by any person in the group. (Thumbs down.) Have persons share why any choice is not acceptable.
If working for consensus, that alternative will be scratched.
Continue the process until the choice with the most benefits for the most people is evident, and the negatives can at least be tolerated.

31. Step 5. Carry out the decision.
Clarify roles of various participants in carrying out the decision.
Seek agreement from all members regarding their roles.
Focus on teamwork in reaching group goals.

32. Step 6. Evaluate the decision / solution as well as the process.
When a group decision has been made, it is easy to forget to return to the original issue and review whether the decision is turning out as planned or the problem is being resolved as planned.
Go back to the discussion, “What’s working well? What’s not working?”
This step is certainly important in any budget discussion as individuals / families continue to spend money, juggle demands, and make ongoing spending and saving decisions.

33. Reference:
Johnson, L. (2018) Interpersonal Relationships, Goodheart-Willcox, Publisher.