Five-Fingered Consensus
The Five-Fingered Consensus is a quick and effective method to gauge the level of agreement within a group on a particular topic. It is particularly useful in large groups or breakout sessions where time is limited.
How to run it
- 1
Explain to the group that they will be using their fingers to indicate their level of agreement, with 5 fingers meaning full agreement and a fist indicating complete disagreement.
- 2
Present the topic or decision for which you want to gauge consensus.
- 3
Ask participants to raise their fingers simultaneously to show their level of agreement.
- 4
Observe the range of responses to determine the group's consensus level.
- 5
Decide on the next steps based on the level of agreement shown.
Tips
Use this method to quickly assess where the group stands without lengthy discussions.
If there is a wide range of responses, consider facilitating further discussion or mediation to address differing viewpoints.
Variations
For a more nuanced approach, you can ask participants to explain their choice after the initial show of fingers, allowing for deeper insights into their perspectives.
Where it fits
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Gamestorming.