fist to five

Democratic decision-making puts the power of a choice into the hands of a larger group of people. Instead of having one person (or a few people) call the shots, the whole group gets to decide the best way forward. The group takes more time to ensure that everyone is up to speed on the problem. They discuss possible solutions, ask questions, refine ideas, and vote on what to do. Fist-to-five is one of the easiest ways that groups can take a democratic vote. It follows a consent-based decision model.

what is fist to five

Fist to five helps people quickly gauge how the group feels about an idea. It's flexible and low/no-cost. Votes can be asynchronous (with a set time limit) or take place when people are all together. Everyone can vote; anyone can suggest, support, or block a proposal.

proposals

Fist to five starts with a proposal, or suggestion, for what a group should do. What makes a good proposal? It's one everyone can understand. Anyone can ask clarifying questions before the first vote. Everyone, no matter how new, is eligible to vote (as long as they understand the problem and solution). Because voting is so easy, I usually discourage amendments until after the first vote. That gives the group a better sense of how close their support/opposition is to others in the group.

Anyone can propose edits to a proposal. We can add them to a proposal using fist to five voting, or vote for the updated proposal itself. Changes to a proposal can happen anytime provided the group can vote for the final version.

voting

How do we vote? At Long Haul Kitchen, we vote through our signal group chats. We've had many discussions about how long to keep a vote open. We found that 24 hours gave folks time to read and ponder without delaying action on a decision. At our last meeting, a group of 6 crafted proposals and voted to send them to the larger community for a full vote. When it's time to vote, people signal their support with their digits, fingers or otherwise.

5️⃣ - I give my full and enthusiastic support
4️⃣ - I am fine with this proposal as-is
3️⃣ - I don't love this proposal, but you have my consent to move forward
2️⃣ - I have a small problem with the proposal and I will work to amend it
1️⃣ - I have a serious problem with the proposal and I will work to amend it
✊🏾 - I can't consent to this proposal in any form

Here's what happens after the vote:

• If anyone votes for a fist, the process cannot proceed. The group learns why the voters are blocking the proposal. They may be able to find a new approach that works better for all participants.
• If anyone votes 1 or 2, the approval is on hold until members can work out a solution. If people are far apart on a solution, the process may take many rounds of discussion and voting.
• If everyone votes a 3 or above, the group approves the proposal. Members can get to work on the actions they approved.

things to consider

Fist to five is a simple approach to making consent-based decisions. Decisions made this way are not always easy; there's no promise the process will be drama-free. Participants must act in good faith and with the belief that there is a way forward. Here are some things to be aware of and their potential remedies.

• People who don't understand the situation might opt out of voting.
  Remedy: Organizers should encourage everyone in the group to stay informed and vote. Ample time for questions and discussions is important. The proposals should be easy to follow but detailed enough so we all know what will happen after the vote.
• Power dynamics skew support for a proposal. New or junior folks may not feel comfortable sharing their concerns with proposals. This is especially true for proposals their more senior peers support.
  Remedy: consent-based voting doesn't allow for strong persuasion or coercion. When someone votes a proposal low, it's the group's job to understand their misgivings and work to fix them.
• The fist feels nuclear. It may seem extreme to shut down a proposal completely. But believing a proposal is unworkable is a position we should be willing to take.
  Remedy: encourage people that their input matters. One person may notice an issue that others might not. Solving the problem now, before we approve a proposal, is easier than trying to fix it later.
• The proposal is too big. Proposals can do too much, confusing voters on what they're voting for.
  Remedy: Break up a proposal into smaller proposals and let people vote on each one.
• The proposal is way too big. A multi-page proposal feels inappropriate for fist to five. The amendment and voting process might take a long time.
  Remedy: consider a proposal to allow a smaller group to work through the details. A different voting method might also be appropriate.

Fist to five is a powerful tool to help groups make decisions together. It’s easy to understand and explain. It's a more productive, and generally safer, way to use one's fist.