Facilitator's Guide to Participatory Decision-Making

Foreword by Michael Doyle xv Introduction to the First Edition xxi Introduction to the Third Edition xxv Part I: Grounding Principles 1 The Dynamics of Group Decision-Making 3 2 Participatory Values 23 3 Introduction to the Role of Facilitator 31 Part II: Facilitator Fundamentals 4 Facilitative Listening Skills 41 5 ChartWriting Technique 65 6 Brainstorming 79 7 Tools for Managing Long Lists 87 8 Facilitating Open Discussion 99 9 Alternatives to Open Discussion 113 10 Effective Agendas: Design Principles 145 11 Effective Agendas: Desired Outcomes 161 12 Effective Agendas: Process Design 177 13 Dealing with Difficult Dynamics 197 14 Classic Facilitator Challenges 215 Part III: Sustainable Agreements 15 Principles for Building Sustainable Agreements 229 16 Inclusive Solutions in Real Life 239 17 Creative Reframing 253 Part IV: Facilitating Sustainable Agreements Introduction to Part Four 262 18 Facilitating in the Divergent Zone 265 19 Facilitating in the Groan Zone 279 20 Facilitating in the Convergent Zone 295 21 Teaching a Group About Group Dynamics 309 Part V: Reaching Closure 22 The Significance of Clear Decision Rules 323 23 Striving for Unanimity 333 24 Reaching Closure Step By Step 347 25 Facilitating Sustainable Agreements 363 Photocopying Policy 373 Bibliography 375 Acknowledgments 381 The Authors 387 Index 389 Covision 399 Community At Work 400 Training from Community At Work 401

Sam Kaner, Ph.D.?is the founder of the consulting firm Community At Work, and he has been its Executive Director since 1986.?He ?is regarded as one of the nation's leading experts on?facilitation. Over the past 20 years he has repeatedly been?a?featured speaker at the annual conferences of several professional associations, including the National Organization Development Network and the International Association of Facilitators. His corporate clients have included?Hewlett-Packard, Price Waterhouse, Visa International, Charles Schwab and Company, and many other Fortune 500 companies. His public sector clients have included the California Supreme Court, the March of Dimes, Special Olympics, Annie E Casey Foundation and many schools, community-based organizations and government agencies.

Lenny Lind?is president of CoVision, Inc. He is the co-developer of Council, a groupware system designed for facilitators.

Catherine Toldi, ?M.A. is a freelance collaboration specialist.

Sarah Fisk, PhD is a clinical psychologist, a seasoned facilitator, and a designer of participatory processes. She has been a featured speaker of the annual conferences of the National Organization Development Network and the International Association of Facilitators as well as an adjunct professor at California Institute of Integral Studies. Sarah's corporate clients have included Hewlett-Packard, Agilent, Visa International, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Inc. and many other Fortune 500 businesses. Her public sector clients have included the March of Dimes, the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, EarthIsland Institute, City of Edmonton, Alberta, and numerous educational and government agencies and community based organizations. Sarah has been a senior consultant with Community At Work since 1996.

Duane Berger, M.A. is co-founder of the Resource Center for Consensus Decision-Making.