“The greatest religious problem today is how to be both a mystic and a militant; in other words how to combine the search for an expansion of inner awareness with effective social action, and how to feel one's true identity in both.”
- Ursula LeGuin
Managing a values-conscious service business
Group process resources
Below are resources to help ensure effective organizational operations, communication, facilitation, decision making, and conflict resolution.
Committees top^
Committees and Delegation
A brief summary of the purpose, requirements, and composition of committees to support a consensus process.
Tree Bressen, linked 08/16
http://www.treegroup.info/topics/handout-committees.pdf
Effective Committees
Good overview of how to make committees effective as they are often the working force at the heart of an organization and build the support base of an organization.
Alberta Food and Agriculture, linked 08/16
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex1333
Effective Committees Factsheet
Clear, concise set of tips.
ON Min of Ag website, linked 08/16
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/facts/08-061.htm
Ideas to Generate Participation in Committees
Excellent ideas for how to increase participation in committees.
Carter McNamara, Free Management Library, linked 08/16
http://managementhelp.org/boards/activating-committees.htm
Standard Committee Terms of Reference
Provides a template for developing Terms of Reference.
Co-op Tools website, linked 08/16
http://cooptools.ca/list/doc/committee_terms_reference_template
Communication principles top^
Roles in Groups
An easy to read article on the roles we each play in groups. Bressen sums it up: the key is usually for all involved to understand each other more, to fully hear each other, to walk a mile in each other's shoes. This leads to either a shift in roles, or more appreciation, honor and comfort with existing roles.
Tree Bressen website, linked 08/16
http://www.treegroup.info/topics/A10-roles.html
Decision making top^
Comparing Consensus Decision-Making and Robert's Rules
A brief chart comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each method of decision making.
Tree Bressen website linked 08/16
http://www.treegroup.info/topics/comparison-chart.pdf
Decision Trees: Choosing by Projecting "Expected Outcomes"
Decision Trees are excellent tools for helping you to choose between several courses of action. They provide a highly effective structure within which you can lay out options and investigate the possible outcomes of choosing those options.
Mind Tools Website, linked 08/16
http://www.mindtools.com/dectree.html
Six Thinking Hats: Looking at a Decision from All Points of View
"Six Thinking Hats", (created by Edward de Bono), is a powerful technique that helps you look at important decisions from a number of different perspectives. It helps you make better decisions by pushing you to move outside your habitual ways of thinking.
Mind Tools Website, linked 08/16
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_07.htm
What Are Dialogue & Deliberation?
An easy-to-read overview from the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation that examines the differences between dialogue and deliberation, how they can work together, and practical applications.
NCDD website, linked 08/16
http://ncdd.org/rc/what-are-dd