Collaborative Decision-Making
We leave no stone unturned to discover and capture what's important to all stakeholders in the decision. This creates a solid foundation to explore all sorts of creative solutions.
We have all and only the necessary discussions, hearing every need, but not every voice. This enables us to capture all that is important to everyone without draining the group’s energy when people repeat what’s already been said.
We don’t expect people to change their position or values, because it’s not necessary for them to agree on specific solutions. All we aim for is to make it possible for people to trust that everyone cares about what matters to them, to see that there are deep principles they all care about regardless of their differences, and to be supported in seeing and caring about what matters to others. This combination is what moves people to orient to the whole. Then they can shift to see that this or that proposal isn’t actually threatening anything that matters to them.
We go through great efforts to bring in, hear and integrate all that matters to all stakeholders across power differences. Without those with the most power, agreements might just not be implemented. Without those with the least power, agreements might simply not work. We know that this is a key condition for a practical, sustainable and implementable outcome.
We know that when people compromise an agreement is more likely to be broken later. We never push anyone to agree to anything. We invite dissent to know more of what’s important and then we keep integrating what we hear until we are done. Then everyone is on board
Read about real-life examples where Convergent Facilitation (CF) helped to find solutions that work for everyone: from large scale decision-making processes to weaving in the underlying principles of CF into work and personal life.
Using Convergent Facilitation Menaka helps neighbors transform tensions over stray cats through a collaborative process that fosters empathy, trust, and workable solutions for both cats and humans.
California state agriculture sector called for a collaborative approach to transforming pest management
Wendy Haynes reflects on a specific occasion where applying Convergent Faciltation principles supported her work with a grieving family.
Parents, staff and board of Amares, a successful preschool in Cologne, Germany, changed the organisation’s legal structures, while maintaining the integrity of its values and pedagogical approach, involving parents as much as they wish and as little as is necessary, reducing costs for all families and making it more accessible for families on lower income.
" There is a belief in our culture that we have to choose between collaboration and efficiency. It’s one or the other. Convergent Facilitation shows that there is an efficient path—perhaps the only truly efficient one—that gets everyone’s needs met. "
Frederic Laloux
Author of "Reinventing Organisations"
" Convergent Facilitation will steer us away from wasting time and accelerate our work for the Great Turning "
Joanna Macy
Root teacher of the "Work That Reconnects"
" Convergent Facilitation is a revolutionary new way of collaborating by creating space for all needs to be heard, inviting dissent without fear or animosity, and attending to power dynamics that are in the room. "
Aaron Goggans
Writer, facilitator, and organizer with the Movement for Black Lives
Step 1: Participate in an Intro Course
About two to three times a year we offer an introduction to the principles, practices and processes involved in Convergent Facilitation — and of course many other aspiring and inspiring Convergent Facilitators!
Step 2: Start Practicing and Learning in Community
Applying Convergent Facilitation — may it be weaving in CF principles or offering a full process to a large group — can be tough! We offer your different ways to practice in safe spaces where you can stumble and fall and learn with every step you take.
Step 3: Start Applying Convergent Facilitation
Discover more and more opportunities where you can bring Convergent Facilitation in a way that works for you and with the community supporting you every step along the way.
Join Us in Bringing Convergence to the World!
Participate in events that will give you an experience of what Convergent Facilitation feels like, give you the opportunity to ask questions to someone who's been out there and done it, get support in taking the first towards becoming a Convergent Facilitator, and deepen your skills and integration of the underlying principles.
Sign up to our newsletter to be notified once we have new events scheduled.
Hear about new case studies, upcoming learning events. We don't post very often ;)
