With her 30 years of practical experience, Mirja Hanson delves deeply into the subtleties of the group consensus method and has provided a treasure house full of keys for successful process consultation. This book will remain within constant reach every time I need a refresher on how to facilitate the politics of process. -- James P. Troxel, partner, Millennia Consulting LLC, co-founder, International Association of Facilitators, and editor, Participation Works and Go Dr. Hanson's book is an excellent mix of case studies, ready to apply principles and skills, and in-depth process knowledge, all grounded in three decades of experience reflection and study. A must read for any of us seeking greater productivity in our personal, civic and/or
professional lives and relationships. -- Dr. David Ostermeier, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee Dr. Hanson has offered the road map that I was fortunate enough to personally experience. She provided direction to move from an autocratic style of management to a collaborative, problem-solving environment that thrived on consensus. This book is a must read for any manager or administrator who wants to achieve excellence in the product they produce or the youth they educate. -- Jim Swearingen, general manager, Retired of United States Steel's Minnesota Taconite Operation Development of a consensus based decision-making model, based on information in this book, will improve morale as the service providers, whether they are teachers or widget makers, will have a direct action on the decisions which affect the work they do. -- Jim Luoma, superintendent of Grand Rapids, Minnesota Public Schools, retired, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees, To deal with today's many challenges, we have to operate in a new, fairly uncharted, territory where people with diverse backgrounds and divergent opinions must collaborate to somehow broker successful outcomes. Clues to Consensus offers a roadmap andtravel guidelines that readers can follow to reach destinations in this new territory successfully... -- Diane Sprague, president, Lifetime Home Project, Minneapolis, MN A well-researched, thoughtful and insightful discussion on collaborative problem solving. School Administrator All my research indicates, when leaders take time to build consensus through a shared decision-making process, they achieve greater results. This book teaches leaders the most critical tools to move their entire organization forward through the consensus or shared decision-making process. Hats off to Mirja Hanson for putting together a true leader's manual for this incredibly powerful leadership tool. -- Dave Webb, Ed.D., principal, Fridley High School, Minnesota To deal with today's many challenges, we have to operate in a new, fairly uncharted, territory where people with diverse backgrounds and divergent opinions must collaborate to somehow broker successful outcomes. Clues to Consensus offers a roadmap and travel guidelines that readers can follow to reach destinations in this new territory successfully. -- Diane Sprague, president, Lifetime Home Project, Minneapolis, MN Aimed at school districts, agencies, organizations, and communities using consensus decision-making, this guide offers step-by-step advice to achieving consensus. Hanson uses real-life scenarios to illustrate pitfalls and success factors. Research and Reference Book News, May 2006
