In order to run effective meetings and get things done as a group, your GSA should designate a process for making decisions as an organization. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the school policy first; some schools require major decisions to be approved by the student council and/or the administration. Also, you need to decide what role your club’s advisor will play in the decision-making process.
Possible Decision-Making Models
- Unanimous--a process called consensus is used to make sure everyone at the meeting agrees on the decision. See below for more about how to reach consensus at your meetings.
- Majority or 2/3 vote--this model usually works best when only club members present at the meeting are given a vote. You may want to publicize the meeting agenda beforehand so people will know what is being discussed and will be more likely to show up if they feel strongly about the issue and want to be involved in the decision-making process.
- Hierarchy--club officers have the ultimate decision-making power. This model may include further levels of decision-making power, such as Leaders→ President→ Administration
More About the Consensus Process
Consensus-based decisions are achieved through discussion and must be approved by everyone at the meeting. A particular decision may be reshaped many times before consensus is reached. Groups that choose the consensus process often do so because voting on issues can divide membership and leave some people feeling unheard. Reaching consensus may also raise levels of commitment by group members because everyone is agreeing on a solution. The consensus-building process, however, requires time, discipline, and patience on the part of the meeting participants, as well as a careful and attentive facilitator.
If your group is having trouble reaching consensus about a particular issue or question, try these tactics:
- Reword the consensus statement
- Be patient and open minded towards different perspectives, understanding that objections are just looking out for the best interest of the club
- Ask objectors to clearly state their feelings/reasons for objecting and offer constructive ways to fix the problem
- See if the statement can be modified to accommodate the objection while still remaining acceptable to everyone else
- Try to find consensus by asking, “Can everyone live with this decision?” This doesn’t mean that everyone needs to be getting everything what they want
Remember, consensus is not possible or applicable to every case.
Download PDF - DECISION-MAKINGINGSACLUBS (1).pdf
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