Communication to reach general agreement

1. THE ROAD TO
CONSENSUS
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2. Program Content
• Communication Process
• Barriers To Communication
• Effectiveness Of Message
• Decision Making Styles
• Power Of Consensus
• Reaching Consensus
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3. EXPECTATIONS
HOPES
CONCERNS
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4. Introduction
What is Communication?
The literal meaning of communication is “to
make common”. It is a personal
process involving the transfer of information,
ideas and feelings between two or more
parties.
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5. 5

6. The Communication Process
NoiseSender
Receiver
decodes
Receiver
creates
meaning
Transmitted
on medium
MessageEncoding
EncodingMessage
Transmitted
on medium
Source
decodes
Feedback 6

7. Any factor disturbing,
confusing and interfering the
communication in any way.
The reversal of the
communication process, where
the receiver expresses a
reaction to the sender.
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8. BarriersNOIbbbbnnSENOISE to
Effective Communication
 Physical Barriers (time, environment,
physical medium of communication)
 Experiential Barriers (new information
not experienced before)
 Perceptual Barriers (different
backgrounds and perspectives)
 Motivational Barriers (mental inertia)
 Cultural Barriers
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9. Barriers to Effective Communication
 Emotional Barriers (feelings)
 Organizational Barriers (business
practices, position in the hierarchy)
 Non-verbal Barriers (gestures, tone)
 Competition Barriers (other competing
elements for the receiver’s attention)
 Linguistic Barriers (Language & words)
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10. Pick A Topic For Discussion:
• A Tour For A Foreign Friend
• The Greatest Birthday Party
• You won $ 1,000,000…How To
Spend It?
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12. CONSENSUS
operational definition
• I believe that you understand my point of view
• I believe that I understand your point of view
• Whether or not I prefer this decision, I will
support it, because it was arrived at in an
open and fair way
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13. Guidelines For Reaching Consensus
• Avoid arguing for the sake of “getting your
own way”
• Avoid changing your mind to minimize conflict
• View differences of opinion as helpful/healthy
• Be suspicious of initial or quick agreement
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14. Group Behaviors That Aid Consensus
• Non-evaluative listening
• Seeking clarification
• supporting and building
• Being completely candid and open
• Establishing group goals and procedures/processes
• Explore all viewpoints
• Avoiding voting or averaging
• Support minority viewpoints
• Providing recognition
• Trust
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15. GUIDELINES FOR REACHING CONSENSUS
1. AVOID ARGUING FOR THE SAKE OF "GETTING YOUR OWN WAY".
2. AVOID CHANGING YOUR MIND FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF
AVOIDING CONFLICT.
3. AVOID CONFLICT-REDUCING TECHNIQUES SUCH AS MAJORITY
VOTE, AVERAGING, BARGAINING, COIN FLIPPING, ETC.
4. VIEW DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AS NATURAL AND HELPFUL
RATHER THAN AS A HINDRANCE.
5. BE SUSPICIOUS OF INITIAL AGREEMENT.
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16. SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATORS
PLANNING SUMMARY
• SKILLED AVERAGE
• Overall amount of time spent same
• Number of outcomes/options considered per issue 5.1 2.6
• % of comments about areas of anticipated common ground 38 11
• % of comments about long-term considerations of issues 8.5 4
• Use of sequences during planning 2.1 4.9
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