This small book delivers a wealth of wise and useful information. And its format makes it incredibly easy to use. This is such an important topic -- I'm grateful that Larry assembled such a rich resource.

-- Meg Wheateley, Author of Turning to One Another

Larry Dressler has created a brilliant work that is a must read for any manager that wants to effect meaningful decisions in their organization.

-- Mike Ferretti, CEO, Great Harvest Bread Company

One of the crucial skills to shift society to sustainability is how to work more effectively in groups. This book will help leaders and participants alike learn skills of consensus and collaboration.

-- Alisa Gravitz, Executive Director, Co-op America

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From The Book:

• Foreword
• Sample Chapter
• Table Of Contents
• Reviews

Also Available In:

• Chinese
• Portuguese

Free Resources:

• What Is Consensus?
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If you want to bring about real change, you won't do it through decree, pressure, permission or even persuasion. Sustained change comes when people are passionately and personally committed to a future that they have helped to shape. If you want to turn your organization's cynics into owners, give them a voice in the decisions that impact their work. Consensus Through Conversation shows how.

Consensus is a cooperative process in which all of a group's members actively develop and agree to support a decision that's in the best interest of the whole. It's not mere acquiescence-consensus goes several steps beyond, moves people from being resigned recipients of instructions to dedicated champions of an idea. Larry Dressler discusses the basic concepts behind consensus, shows you exactly how to prepare for a successful consensus-building process, takes you step-by-step through that process, and offers tips for success and traps to avoid. Throughout, he provides a host of tools and examples that make this an eminently practical and immediately useful guide.

At a time when organizational hierarchies are flattening, workforces are becoming more geographically dispersed, and workers are demanding a say in what they do, consensus is needed more than ever. Consensus Through Conversation guides leaders and facilitators toward the proper use of consensus and away from applications that create the 'illusion of inclusion' and false agreement. It is a handy, vital reference readers can turn to in their efforts build enthusiasm and commitment on high-stakes issues.