CF Consensus Building & Group Agreement

Question 1

Which of the following best defines consensus in a facilitated group process?

Accepted Answer

A decision all members can support, even if it is not their first preference

Answer

A decision where every member gets exactly what they want

Answer

A majority vote where the winning side prevails

Answer

A compromise where everyone gives up something equally

Question 2

A facilitator notices the group is converging on a decision but two members remain silent. What is the BEST action?

Accepted Answer

Explicitly invite the silent members to share their perspectives

Answer

Proceed with the decision since most members agree

Answer

Call a vote to formalize the majority position

Answer

Assume silence means consent and close the discussion

Question 3

Which technique is MOST effective when a group is stuck between two competing proposals?

Accepted Answer

Asking the group to identify shared underlying interests rather than fixed positions

Answer

Tabling the discussion indefinitely

Answer

Having the facilitator choose the better option

Answer

Requiring each side to debate until one concedes

Question 4

A 'fist-to-five' (or 'fist-of-five') voting method is used in facilitation primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Gauge the degree of support or concern each member has for a proposal

Answer

Determine the most popular idea through majority vote

Answer

Eliminate minority viewpoints quickly

Answer

Assign priority rankings to agenda items

Question 5

What is the primary purpose of a 'parking lot' during a consensus-building session?

Accepted Answer

To capture important but tangential items so the main discussion stays focused

Answer

To permanently dismiss off-topic ideas

Answer

To list all rejected proposals for the record

Answer

To store agenda items that ran out of time permanently

Question 6

When facilitating consensus, 'gradients of agreement' scales are valuable because they:

Accepted Answer

Reveal the nuanced range of support and resistance within the group

Answer

Reduce the time spent on discussion by limiting responses

Answer

Allow the facilitator to override minority objections

Answer

Replace the need for further deliberation

Question 7

Which of the following is a WARNING SIGN that a group may be experiencing 'false consensus'?

Accepted Answer

No one voices concerns despite a controversial proposal

Answer

Members ask clarifying questions before agreeing

Answer

Participants openly disagree during deliberation

Answer

The discussion takes longer than planned