Deep Democracy

Resolving Complex Issues and Reaching Decisions that Last

with Sera Thompson and Georgina Veldhorst
April 15-16, 2010
The Hub, Halifax, Nova Scotia

How do we tap the potential for innovation and action in any group or team? How do we shift recurring group patterns that block productivity and creativity? As executives, managers, consultants and teachers, how can we work fearlessly with underlying group dynamics to facilitate quantum growth in the collaborative potential and collective wisdom of our teams?

In this workshop you will enter the world of Deep Democracy, a hands-on approach that is widely applicable and a valuable tool for those facilitating meetings or any process where decisions need to be reached. It will provide a practical framework through which individuals, teams or groups can address areas that are often experienced as difficult, problematic or painful. The skills are easily learned, and easily used. No previous knowledge or experience is required, just a willingness to try something different and the ability to observe without judging or controlling.

Based on the pioneering work of Amy and Arny Mindell, Deep Democracy assumes that there is enormous wisdom and value in conflicting opinions. Deep Democracy doesn't attempt to get everyone to agree on the same approach or idea. It allows us to build real buy-in to group decisions — which recognizes and includes the wisdom inherent in minority views, rather than simply ignoring or overriding them. Deep Democracy creates heightened awareness at an individual and group level of the unconscious processes that often hold the key to real progress.

The methodology does not view difficulties as "pathologies" in the group or in any of its members, but rather as creative possibilities which need assistance to unfold. The emphasis on health rather than dysfunction provides a safe container, which allows individuals, groups, teams and organizations to change with surprising rapidity and grace.

Through this workshop you will also gain a heightened personal awareness of the roles you may unwittingly adopt in a group, the impact of your ability to be compassionate and maintain neutrality, and what is happening within yourself and how you can apply that insight to facilitate more effectively. Through this process you will also gain a profound understanding of the decision-making process.

“I've been using the skills I learned in the Deep Democracy workshop to host Board meetings and working group discussions. I've been really amazed by how effective these techniques are. We're now able to reach decisions far more quickly and confidently.” – Zoë Caron, President, Sierra Club Canada

White Belt and Yellow Belt training

Although each course follows its own unique path, in this workshop you can expect to learn skills and tools that will enable you to:

• Run a unique "check in" process that will uncover the dynamics and underlying field of the group – an effective way to start and end meetings
• Engage and facilitate a powerful decision-making process that secures real buy-in and commitment
• "Sort the field", or differentiate between individuals and emotions, opinions and roles in the group's dynamics
• Deliver a "climate report" to raise group awareness and facilitate decisions
• Recognize when a group is avoiding facing underlying issues – "elephants in the room" or blockages – that cause difficulty and pain and prevent forward movement
• Recognize when there is "terrorist" behaviour that is unconsciously disrupting and/or blocking forward movement
• Amplify what is happening to help people say what needs to be said and uncover the real issues and move towards resolution

About the Workshop Hosts

Sera Thompson has lived and worked in Canada, the United States and Southern Africa. She met Myrna Lewis and began practicing Deep Democracy while she was living in South Africa helping to lead Pioneers of Change, a global learning community of change agents . She facilitates conversations, conferences and strategic change processes that invite transformative action for a broad range of people and organizations. Sera has trained dozens of people in Deep Democracy around the world and is now working to bring Deep Democracy to North America. She currently lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she serves on the Governing Council of the ALIA Institute.

Georgina Veldhorst facilitates complex decision making and conflict transformation in health care, non profit organizations and communities. She has spent much of her career working in the health care system including 10 years at the executive level. Georgina is one of Canada's leading practitioners of Deep Democracy and currently works in Canada, the US and Africa.