Definition of Consensus
To agree to the degree that you can stand behind the decision with your actions
Important points about consensus
• Not everyone must agree 100% with the decision!
• Allows for discussion and rationale thinking
• Outcomes are based on thoughtful consideration rather than on feeling (or pride)
NOTES
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010.
A private yacht, sailing through an archipelago located between the 10th and 20th parallels in the Pacific Ocean, is caught in a sudden storm and runs aground violently on a coral reef. The passengers and crew miraculously reach the sandy shores of one of the islands. Shortly before the wreck, the crew had estimated that the port they were heading for was about 300 nautical miles away. Before abandoning ship, shortly before the impact, they tried a MAYDAY message on the radio with approximate coordinates; it was not possible to repeat the distress message or to receive a reply because of the rush of events. Unfortunately, the chances of the message getting through – in view of the atmospheric conditions, the quality of the transmission, and the distance – were very poor.
The situation can be summarized as follows:
1. The island is small and uninhabited. There is plenty of tropical vegetation, and among the plants abound coconuts, mangoes, and bananas. It rains in the afternoon most days, but the climate is mild and does not require heavy clothing. At low tide, fish and shellfish can be seen just offshore.
2. Nobody had time to pick up any supplies from the yacht. The passengers’ and crew members’ pockets contain cigarettes matches, two lighters, and a pocket knife. Among them, they have three watches.
3. The lagoon between the beach and the coral reef where the yacht ran aground is approximately 900 yards in diameter and has an area of deep water.
4. Only a few of the passengers and crew members are good swimmers.
5. Most certainly, all of the equipment aboard the yacht (i.e. radio transmitter, radar, generators) was destroyed on impact.
6. The crew predicts that the yacht will be dragged along the reef and will sink at high tide about eight hours later.
The total group has decided that the wrecked yacht must be reached before it sinks in order to recover those items necessary for future survival. Those persons who are the best swimmers will go to analyze the situation on board the yacht and attempt to bring supplies back to the shore. The group needs to prepare a list of those items that it considers most valuable for the group, selecting them in order of priority. Anticipating this, some crew members have compiled lists of items they think will be needed, Because time is valuable, it is decided that the total group’s list will include fifteen of these items (the most that can be retrieved in the time available), listed in order of priority.
Reproduced with permission from The 1994 Annual: Developing Human Resources.
J. William Pfeiffer, Editor. San Diego, Ca: Pfeiffer & Company, 1994.
During this task, do not communicate with anyone. Your task is to rank, in order of priority, fifteen items from the following lists. Next to the number “1” in column two below, write the name of the item you believe is the most important. Continue until you reach number “15,” the least important item. You will have 10 minutes to complete this task.
These items are the choices of five members of the crew:
The subgroup members now will have to agree on a single list, which they will write on a large sheet of paper – fifteen items in order of priority, including those items most likely to ensure survival.
It is important to remember that
You must reach a consensus regarding the ranking given to each item.
“Consensus” means that each member of the subgroup agrees to the plan at least to some degree. Coercion and methods of conflict avoidance such as averaging, voting, and “horse-trading” are not recommended.
The subgroup may organize as it wishes to obtain the best results.
The subgroup has 30 minutes in which to complete this task.
Group Ranking
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Each group will present its Ranking List and briefly explain why they chose the items on the list.
Working definition: To demonstrate that you value others
• Demonstrate – reflects behavior and words
• You – it is personal and applies to everyone
• Value – regard, esteem
• Others – at least everyone connected with work (The bigger picture is all of humanity.)
Attitudes That Support Respect
• I desire to treat you like I want to be treated AND I will do my best to treat you this way.
• I see you first and foremost as a human being with whom I have much in common.
What Behaviors Reflect Respect?
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010.
Additional Practical Ways to Demonstrate Respect
1. Recognize (aloud) the strengths, merit, and significance of others
2. Seek to build solid business relationships
3. Stop to listen – pay attention
4. Speak calmly
5. Be considerate of differences
6. Walk the talk
7. Refuse to gossip
8. Get all the facts
9. Seek input
10. Control your temper
11. Be on time
12. Be patient
13. Be honest
14. Laugh with not at one another
15. Let go of grudges
16. Admit when you are wrong
17. Others:
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010.
INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY:
1. Of all the Practical Ways to Demonstrate Respect (listed on the previous 2 pages), which 3 do you believe your group best utilized in the Wreck Survivor game?
2. Which Practical Ways do you believe would have helped your group achieve its goal in a timely fashion if they had been better employed?
3. In what other ways did the group members demonstrate respect to a fellow member(s)?
4. Who was the leader of your group?
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010.
LARGE GROUP ACTIVITY:
If each of the Practical Ways were improved and employed on a regular basis at your company . . .
1. Would anything change? If so, what would change and how it would change?
2. How would productivity be affected?
3. How would stress be affected?
4. How would job satisfaction be affected?
5. How would attitudes be affected?
6. How would the corporate culture be affected?
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010.
Personal Motivation
1. What goal, dream, or ideal is really important (valuable) to you?
2. How will demonstrating respect on the job move you closer to that goal, dream, or ideal?
3. How could NOT demonstrating respect on the job possibly hinder you from your goal, dream, or ideal?
Commitment
What is one action you will practice this week to improve the way you demonstrate respect on the job?
Everyone will share Success Stories next week about the results gained from practicing respect!
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.
To agree to the degree that you can stand behind the decision with your actions
Important points about consensus
• Not everyone must agree 100% with the decision!
• Allows for discussion and rationale thinking
• Outcomes are based on thoughtful consideration rather than on feeling (or pride)
NOTES
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010.
A private yacht, sailing through an archipelago located between the 10th and 20th parallels in the Pacific Ocean, is caught in a sudden storm and runs aground violently on a coral reef. The passengers and crew miraculously reach the sandy shores of one of the islands. Shortly before the wreck, the crew had estimated that the port they were heading for was about 300 nautical miles away. Before abandoning ship, shortly before the impact, they tried a MAYDAY message on the radio with approximate coordinates; it was not possible to repeat the distress message or to receive a reply because of the rush of events. Unfortunately, the chances of the message getting through – in view of the atmospheric conditions, the quality of the transmission, and the distance – were very poor.
The situation can be summarized as follows:
1. The island is small and uninhabited. There is plenty of tropical vegetation, and among the plants abound coconuts, mangoes, and bananas. It rains in the afternoon most days, but the climate is mild and does not require heavy clothing. At low tide, fish and shellfish can be seen just offshore.
2. Nobody had time to pick up any supplies from the yacht. The passengers’ and crew members’ pockets contain cigarettes matches, two lighters, and a pocket knife. Among them, they have three watches.
3. The lagoon between the beach and the coral reef where the yacht ran aground is approximately 900 yards in diameter and has an area of deep water.
4. Only a few of the passengers and crew members are good swimmers.
5. Most certainly, all of the equipment aboard the yacht (i.e. radio transmitter, radar, generators) was destroyed on impact.
6. The crew predicts that the yacht will be dragged along the reef and will sink at high tide about eight hours later.
The total group has decided that the wrecked yacht must be reached before it sinks in order to recover those items necessary for future survival. Those persons who are the best swimmers will go to analyze the situation on board the yacht and attempt to bring supplies back to the shore. The group needs to prepare a list of those items that it considers most valuable for the group, selecting them in order of priority. Anticipating this, some crew members have compiled lists of items they think will be needed, Because time is valuable, it is decided that the total group’s list will include fifteen of these items (the most that can be retrieved in the time available), listed in order of priority.
Reproduced with permission from The 1994 Annual: Developing Human Resources.
J. William Pfeiffer, Editor. San Diego, Ca: Pfeiffer & Company, 1994.
During this task, do not communicate with anyone. Your task is to rank, in order of priority, fifteen items from the following lists. Next to the number “1” in column two below, write the name of the item you believe is the most important. Continue until you reach number “15,” the least important item. You will have 10 minutes to complete this task.
These items are the choices of five members of the crew:
The subgroup members now will have to agree on a single list, which they will write on a large sheet of paper – fifteen items in order of priority, including those items most likely to ensure survival.
It is important to remember that
You must reach a consensus regarding the ranking given to each item.
“Consensus” means that each member of the subgroup agrees to the plan at least to some degree. Coercion and methods of conflict avoidance such as averaging, voting, and “horse-trading” are not recommended.
The subgroup may organize as it wishes to obtain the best results.
The subgroup has 30 minutes in which to complete this task.
Group Ranking
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Each group will present its Ranking List and briefly explain why they chose the items on the list.
Working definition: To demonstrate that you value others
• Demonstrate – reflects behavior and words
• You – it is personal and applies to everyone
• Value – regard, esteem
• Others – at least everyone connected with work (The bigger picture is all of humanity.)
Attitudes That Support Respect
• I desire to treat you like I want to be treated AND I will do my best to treat you this way.
• I see you first and foremost as a human being with whom I have much in common.
What Behaviors Reflect Respect?
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010.
Additional Practical Ways to Demonstrate Respect
1. Recognize (aloud) the strengths, merit, and significance of others
2. Seek to build solid business relationships
3. Stop to listen – pay attention
4. Speak calmly
5. Be considerate of differences
6. Walk the talk
7. Refuse to gossip
8. Get all the facts
9. Seek input
10. Control your temper
11. Be on time
12. Be patient
13. Be honest
14. Laugh with not at one another
15. Let go of grudges
16. Admit when you are wrong
17. Others:
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010.
INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY:
1. Of all the Practical Ways to Demonstrate Respect (listed on the previous 2 pages), which 3 do you believe your group best utilized in the Wreck Survivor game?
2. Which Practical Ways do you believe would have helped your group achieve its goal in a timely fashion if they had been better employed?
3. In what other ways did the group members demonstrate respect to a fellow member(s)?
4. Who was the leader of your group?
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010.
LARGE GROUP ACTIVITY:
If each of the Practical Ways were improved and employed on a regular basis at your company . . .
1. Would anything change? If so, what would change and how it would change?
2. How would productivity be affected?
3. How would stress be affected?
4. How would job satisfaction be affected?
5. How would attitudes be affected?
6. How would the corporate culture be affected?
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010.
Personal Motivation
1. What goal, dream, or ideal is really important (valuable) to you?
2. How will demonstrating respect on the job move you closer to that goal, dream, or ideal?
3. How could NOT demonstrating respect on the job possibly hinder you from your goal, dream, or ideal?
Commitment
What is one action you will practice this week to improve the way you demonstrate respect on the job?
Everyone will share Success Stories next week about the results gained from practicing respect!
© Umberger Development Partners Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.
SAMPLE DEVELOPMENT SESSION -- 1 OF 5 SESSIONS
"Respect in the Workplace"
"Respect in the Workplace"
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