Assembly

Collective thinking

Collective thinking is exactly the opposite of the current system, based in individualistic thinking. Therefore, it is difficult to assimilate and apply. We need time, it is a long process. Usually, when facing a decision, two people with opposite ideas will tend to confront and fiercely defend their ideas. They will try to convince, win or at least to get a compromise. The aim of collective thinking is to build something. Namely two persons with different ideas join their forces to create something together. It is not anymore about my idea or yours. It is about both ideas, which will together produce something new, something that neither you or me initially knew. In order to ease this process, active listening is necessary; when we listen actively we are not just preparing our reply. Collective thinking is born when we understand that all opinions, ours and different ones, all of them, are needed to create the idea of consensus. An idea that, after an indirect construction, transforms us.

Assembly consensus

It has been said that real consensus implies "satisfying the needs of everybody". Consensual decision tries to promote individual voices above of factions and parties. This method also increases the probability of unexpected or creative solutions by bringing together different ideas trying to minimize objections. The consensus is a complex issue. To apply it successfully, we have to face a major obstacle: our education, which is dominated by values ​​such as obedience, delegate liability, individualism, pragmatism, etc. Working with this assembly method requires overcome gradually those values in order to be more participative. It is not something to be accomplished all of a sudden, but by learning and time.

Consensus doesn't mean that everybody agrees that the best possible decision has undoubtedly been taken or that everybody is sure that everything will work. Instead, consensus means that after taking a decision, nobody thinks that her/his opinion was misinterpreted or that she/he did not have the opportunity to defend it.

4 LEVELS OF CONSENSUS exist:

a.- "I agree".

b.- "It is not the ideal solution, but it is OK".

c.- "I am not against what you want to do, but I do not want to be involved".

d.- "I am against what you want to do". VETO.

Only the veto blocks the process and forces a restart or give-up. Otherwise, the decision is taken.

ATTITUDES THAT BUILD ASSEMBLIES.

1.- PUNCTUALITY: The time of other assistants is not less important than yours. It is a great inconsideration to make them wait for you. Many assemblies fail because they do not start on time. Later we must hurry up and work less seriously; just because somebody came late, showing a lack of interest in the assembly.

2.- LISTEN WITHOUT INTERRUPTING. Only the person that is in charge of moderating the assembly can conclude a discussion or intervene when somebody is speaking too long. If anybody could interrupt in an assembly, we would not make progress and the group dynamics would fail.

3.- LISTEN WITH SYMPATHY to the one who expresses opinions that are different from yours. Listening to others' opinions is the best way to enhance your own ideas. With this practice, it will be easier for you to hit on a better solution to the problem discussed when it is your turn to speak.

4.- DELIBERATE BEFORE SPEAKING. Everybody is judged on their words; you should thus never use incorrect or offensive sentences. It is well possible to express nonconformity with other people without hurting them.

5.- ONLY INTERESTING STATEMENTS. Focus on what is useful. Brevity is very valuable and difficult to achieve, but very beneficial too.

6.- CRITICIZE WITH ARGUMENTS. To criticize is often the best way of making new enemies. Your critique should be irreproachable and always followed by a constructive solution.

7.- COMMITMENT TO PARTICIPATE. Assisting to assemblies is the least important thing. Really valuable is the work that everybody wants to do after the assembly.

8.- HONESTY. You should always express your thinking, what you want to say, with full honesty along the entire assembly. Do not wait until the end to comment what we should do or to criticize things that were mentioned in the assembly. After the assembly, there is no other solution than sticking to the agreements.