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More Than 50 Ways to Build Team Consensus
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More Than 50 Ways to Build Team Consensus

Second Edition


June 2006 | 296 pages | Corwin
'As a single source of ideas for facilitators and school leaders, this book is excellent. The author very thoroughly covers the material, and the procedures are easy to follow' - Stephen H. Laub, Principal,

Rolla Junior High School, MO

Today's workplace is increasingly shifting from top-down, authoritative leadership to engendering participation from all the stakeholders in a team. In response to this ever-growing trend, R. Bruce Williams provides group facilitators with insights and research about teams working together to reach consensus and accomplish their goals. This revised edition presents current brain research and its implications for team leaders and members, and explores the growing importance of participative processes in collaborative working environments.

In a user-friendly format, Williams offers more than 50 practical, step-by-step activities and strategies for immediate implementation, with real-life examples to assist in the consensus-building process. The activities address the four main components of full consensus:

• Creating a purposeful vision

• Effecting participative processes

• Fostering individual commitment

• Building strong collaborative teams

Use this valuable "road map" to set the stage for establishing consensus and effecting successful collaborative teamwork!

 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Introduction to Building Team Consensus
 
I. Purposeful Vision
 
1. Visualizing the Common Direction: Simple Things to Do
Hopes and Desires Conversation

 
Snapshots

 
Brainstorming Closure

 
TV Personality in Three Years

 
Common Direction Written Summary

 
Past, Present, and Future Images

 
 
2. Creating Visible Documentation: Things That Take Effort
Cardstorming

 
Meeting Products Documentation

 
Artifacts

 
Report

 
Wall Decor of Meeting Products

 
Article

 
 
3. Illuminating the Total Framework: For the Committed
Journey Wall

 
Global Events Conversation

 
Newsletter

 
Organization Principles Workshop

 
Purposeful Vision Chart

 
All the Stakeholders

 
 
II. Participative Processes
 
4. Generating Total Participation: Simple Things to Do
Creating the Real Question

 
Eventful Happenings

 
Sticker Dots

 
Language

 
TV News Spot

 
Questions Not Dictums

 
Carousel Solutions

 
 
5. Organizing the Meeting Focus: Things That Take Effort
One Concrete Product

 
Time Flow Picture

 
Meeting Space

 
Materials

 
Meeting Plan Forms

 
 
6. Tapping the Group Agreement: For the Committed
Guidelines for a Consensus Outcome

 
Workshop Flow

 
Three-to-One Scenarios

 
Cooperative Writing Workshop

 
Mapping the Road to Agreement

 
Agreement: State and Restate

 
Testing for Consensus

 
 
III. Individual Commitment
 
7. Eliciting Detailed Assignments: Simple Things to Do
Task Volunteers

 
What/Who/When Cards

 
Timelines

 
Attendance

 
Assignment Chart

 
 
8. Expanding Personal Recognition: Things That Take Effort
Specific Praise

 
Individual Celebrations

 
Training, Coaching, or Project Feedback

 
Use of People’s Names

 
Personalized Job Tools

 
 
9. Occasioning Individual Accountability and Absolution: For the Committed
Short Weekly Meetings

 
“I Am Nervous About” Conversations

 
Implementation Lesson Conversation

 
A Victory Party Before the Victory

 
Symbol of Commitment

 
 
IV. Collaborative Teams
 
10. Intensifying Team Identity: Simple Things to Do
Team Member List

 
Team Name

 
Team Flag or Symbol

 
Team Motto

 
Team Song

 
Team Rituals or Rites

 
 
11. Increasing Supportive Connection: Things That Take Effort
Winning Team Story

 
Leadership Rotation

 
Icebreaker Opening Conversation

 
Dyad or Triad Brainstorming

 
Making the Differences Visible

 
Team Victory Celebration

 
 
12. Enhancing Group Reflection: For the Committed
Processing Partners

 
Content Processing

 
Meeting Processing

 
Teamwork Processing

 
Logs or Journals

 
Career Motivation Conversation

 
 
Conclusion
 
Bibliography
 
Index

"The book is handy, easy to use, and chock full of practical ideas that can be immediately implemented. It does not bog readers down in theoretical explanations, though it gives just enough background or rationale for each activity to ground them in the 'big picture.'"

Marta Gardner, Literacy Coach
Esperanza Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA

"As a single source of ideas for facilitators and building leaders, this book is excellent. The author very thoroughly covers the material and the procedures are easy to follow."

Stephen H. Laub, Principal
Rolla Junior High School, MO

"Packed with practical ideas to help facilitators aid groups in collaborating to achieve their goals."

Tools for Schools, Vol. 10, No. 2
National Staff Development Council

"Easy-to-follow activities that promote teamwork are outlined in this handbook. Although the intended audience is facilitators, educators can also use these tools to improve class community."

Curriculum Connections, Spring 2007
School Library Journal

Works well with the others texts we are currently using.

Mr Charles Kramer
Sch Of Ed Organization Leadshp, University Of La Verne
January 28, 2014

Text was supplemental to the class, but did not appear to be comprehensive enough for this class.

Dr Michele Kelk
School Of Education, Webster University
November 17, 2010

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface

Introduction


R. Bruce Williams

Bruce Williams has more than thirty five years of international consulting experience, and is noted for his expertise in group facilitation and in planning and team building methodologies. Williams' specialty is facilitating participative, interactive group workshops whether they are focused on strategic planning and consensus building or instructional methodologies for the classroom. He has conducted successful workshops on brain compatible learning and school change facilitation, and he frequently presents in the areas of cooperative learning, higher order thinking skills, and authentic assessment. With seven years' experience in... More About Author

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