Learn some effective strategies to build consensus among diverse stakeholders in your community and achieve your goals as a community organizer.

Go beyond the loudest voices in the room.Identify and then listen to the voices you have not heard.Doing so will give you a more nuanced view of the issues you are dealing with.

Last updated on Mar 14, 2024

You’re a community organizer and you need to build consensus. What are some effective strategies?

As a community organizer, you know how important it is to build consensus among diverse stakeholders. Consensus means that everyone agrees on a common goal, a shared vision, and a feasible action plan. But how do you achieve consensus when there are conflicting interests, opinions, and perspectives? Here are some effective strategies that can help you foster collaboration, trust, and mutual understanding in your community.

1 Identify your allies

Before you start any consensus-building process, you need to identify your allies. These are the people or groups who share your values, goals, and vision for the community. They can help you mobilize support, spread the word, and influence others. To find your allies, you can use various methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or mapping exercises. You can also look for existing networks, coalitions, or organizations that align with your cause.

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Kelley Chunn

Professor of Practice, Public Relations, Boston University, Multicultural/Cause Related PR & Marketing Consultant, Founding President, Roxbury Cultural District, Speaker, Trainer
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Go beyond the loudest voices in the room.Identify and then listen to the voices you have not heard.Doing so will give you a more nuanced view of the issues you are dealing with.

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2 Listen and learn

Once you have identified your allies, you need to listen and learn from them. Listening is not just hearing what they say, but understanding what they mean, what they need, and what they expect. Learning is not just collecting information, but analyzing it, synthesizing it, and using it to inform your strategy. To listen and learn effectively, you need to ask open-ended questions, acknowledge different viewpoints, and avoid assumptions or judgments.

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3 Communicate and educate

After you have listened and learned from your allies, you need to communicate and educate them. Communication is not just telling them what you want, but engaging them in a dialogue, sharing your vision, and inviting feedback. Education is not just informing them about the facts, but inspiring them with stories, showing them the benefits, and addressing their concerns. To communicate and educate effectively, you need to use clear and simple language, tailor your message to your audience, and use various channels and formats.

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Beverley Evert

Experienced in grant writing and management. Remote/Part time preferred.
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If people don’t know your mission and you don’t engage them, they are not going to have the buy-in to help pass your message to the wider community. Once you educate and partner with stakeholders you are half way to a successful program.

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4 Negotiate and compromise

When you have communicated and educated your allies, you need to negotiate and compromise with them. Negotiation is not just bargaining for your own interests, but finding common ground, creating win-win solutions, and building trust. Compromise is not just giving up something, but making trade-offs, respecting differences, and honoring agreements. To negotiate and compromise effectively, you need to be flexible, creative, and respectful.

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5 Celebrate and appreciate

Finally, when you have negotiated and compromised with your allies, you need to celebrate and appreciate them. Celebration is not just marking the achievement, but reinforcing the commitment, acknowledging the contributions, and highlighting the impact. Appreciation is not just saying thank you, but showing gratitude, giving recognition, and offering support. To celebrate and appreciate effectively, you need to be sincere, generous, and consistent.

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6 Keep the momentum

Building consensus is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. You need to keep the momentum going by monitoring the progress, evaluating the results, and adapting to the changes. You also need to maintain the relationships, communicate the updates, and address the challenges. By keeping the momentum, you can ensure that your consensus is not only reached, but also sustained.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You’re a community organizer and you need to build consensus. What are some effective strategies?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify your allies

2 Listen and learn

3 Communicate and educate

4 Negotiate and compromise

5 Celebrate and appreciate

6 Keep the momentum

7 Here’s what else to consider

Community Organizing

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You’re a community organizer and you need to build consensus. What are some effective strategies?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify your allies

2 Listen and learn

3 Communicate and educate

4 Negotiate and compromise

5 Celebrate and appreciate

6 Keep the momentum

7 Here’s what else to consider

Community Organizing

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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