More Than 50 Ways to Build Team Consensus

'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!

Table of Contents:
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

About the Author :
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 teaching English as a second language in Japan and Korea, Williams is highly experienced in working with diverse populations. Thirty-six years′ experience in adult training also make him a valuable resource in facilitating school change. In addition to conference workshops in 2002 in Australia and New Zealand, he has been invited three times to present workshops for teachers in Singapore. In April of 2004, Williams was the keynote speaker for 400 principals and teachers in Beijing.

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