Hi folks,
If I say “Fist to Five”, what comes to mind? The latest indie band? Violence?
Hmmmm. Maybe. But in this case, Fist to Five is a model for evaluating and building consensus in a group setting. And it’s pretty awesome.
There’s a number of variations to the model, but the gist is this: for any proposal or decision, each individual on the team gets to vote. To vote, they hold up one hand with 0-5 fingers. The number of fingers indicates their level of support (or lack thereof):
- 5 fingers – This decision is amazingly awesome and I totally agree 100%.
- 4 fingers – I like this and I’ll support it as is. Any reservations I have are minor and not worth discussing.
- 3 fingers – I have some reservations worth discussing, but I can support the decision as is nonetheless.
- 2 fingers – I have some reservations that need addressing or clarification before I can support this decision.
- 1 finger – I have strong reservations with this decision and/or suggested changes. I can’t support the decision as is.
- Fist – What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
More or less.
If everybody has three or more fingers raised, then you have consensus. If not, you work with the folks who raised fewer fingers to try and adjust the decision to bring them on board (without inadvertently alienating any of the folks who are already supporting the decision). You adjust and vote until you get to the magical, happyland of a consensus.
That’s it. Pretty simple, but it gives people the opportunity to voice gradations of consent or dissent while still pushing towards agreement.
Fist to Five – a phantonym and a model for peacefully solving disagreements.
Rex