The Highest Common Denominator

This is a complete handbook for reaching breakthrough collaborative decisions using the process of Convergent Facilitation. Convergent Facilitation has been used successfully in a variety of contexts around the world, including: • between longtime enemies with polarized perspectives; • to create breakthrough legislation with bipartisan support; • to resolve problems in half the time at a multi billion dollar corporation; • to create a collaborative leadership structure at nonprofit organizations with a geographically diverse staff. Through vivid case studies and practical examples, Miki explains : • how to guide people towards solutions that integrate everyone’s needs and concerns and don’t require compromise; • how to keep people on track with the task at hand; • how to invite dissent and engage with it productively; • how to attend to the power differences that so often interfere with collaboration. How? By upending conventional ways of making decisions such as majority rule; top down decision-making, which can result in coercion; or consensus, which can drain a group’s energy. Instead, Convergent Facilitation efficiently moves through three phases of a process that can bring groups to outcomes that are profoundly collaborative and genuinely supported by all.