Need more tips?
Try Facilitation Coaching!

This Week's Tip: #702
Understanding Disagreement

The key to building consensus is understanding why people disagree in the first place. The good news? There are only three reasons why people disagree:

• Each has not clearly heard and understood the other's alternative and/or their reasons for supporting the alternative.
• Each has heard and understood the alternative or supporting reasons, but has had different experiences or holds different values that result in a different preference.
• The disagreement is based on personality, past history with one another, or other factors that have nothing to do with the alternatives.

There are a variety of techniques for resolving the first two types of disagreement. A disagreement based on personality or past history, however, cannot be resolved easily within a session. It is important to determine the source of disagreement as quickly as possible to avoid wasting time.

Learn more about consensus-building techniques in The Effective Facilitator!

Coming next week - Let Participants Seek Agreement On Their Own!
Coming July 14th - Taking Control of Disagreements!
Coming July 21st - Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses!