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

Consensus means all participants can live with and support the decision, not that everyone is fully satisfied with their ideal outcome.

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

Silence does not equal consent; a skilled facilitator actively checks in with quiet participants to ensure all voices are included before finalizing consensus.

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

Surfacing shared interests beneath opposing positions is a core interest-based negotiation approach that helps groups move past positional deadlock.

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

Fist-to-five allows each participant to show their level of support (0–5 fingers), revealing not just who agrees but how strongly and who has reservations.

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

A parking lot temporarily holds valuable ideas or issues that are not central to the current discussion, ensuring they are not lost and can be addressed later.

(CF) Certified Facilitator Practice Test

(CF) Certified Facilitator Practice Test

CF Consensus Building & Group Agreement