Encourage Feedback and Build Consensus: Use the Fist to Five Protocol to Guide Decisions
INTRO
Building consensus as a school leader is crucial for fostering collaboration, trust, and shared ownership of decisions and direction. It is inclusive of diverse perspectives, which can lead to more effective solutions and greater commitment from staff, students, parents, and the community. By involving stakeholders in the decision-making process, leaders create a sense of unity and alignment toward common goals, improving the chances of success for initiatives and fostering a positive, inclusive school culture.
OBJECTIVES
- Foster deeper conversation
- Innovate and find consensus
- Facilitate informative voting
The Fist to Five process is a participatory decision-making tool that facilitates quality voting, allowing for more nuanced and informative group decision-making compared to simple “yes” or “no” voting. In this method, a fist represents a “no” vote, while the number of fingers raised indicates varying levels of agreement, thus emphasizing the quality of the “yes.”
A fist means, “I strongly disagree” or “I object and will block the decision.”
A one means, “I’m barely okay with it,” or “I don’t like it but I won’t block it,” or “This needs a lot more work.” In a consensus setting, it shows that you don’t agree but won’t stand in the way.
A three means, “I’m neutral, some parts are good, others not so much.”
A four means, “I’m fine with this.”
A five means, “I fully support this, it’s the best choice.”
TIP
Looking for a protocol you can adapt for asynchronous use? Check this toolkit out!
This approach shifts decision-making from focusing solely on the quantity of votes to the quality of the support for a decision, offering deeper insights into group sentiment. Fist to Five also acts as a tool during consensus-building discussions, gauging the collective stance and helping school leaders ensure inclusivity, collaboration, and shared ownership of decisions. By fostering unity and aligning stakeholders—teachers, students, parents, and the broader community—around common goals, this process strengthens commitment to initiatives and promotes a positive, inclusive school culture.
In summary, the Fist to Five process enhances both decision-making quality and group cohesion, making it an invaluable method for leaders focused on consensus building and collective engagement.
• Establish first what decisions fit a consensus making process.
• Consider using the process first with a low impact, low risk decision. This gives everyone the opportunity to “practice”