Deep Democracy

DEEP DEMOCRACY

The Deep Democracy paradigm is complementary to my work with the Theory U.  Especially when a group in an area of shared responsibility has to come to a lasting agreement, the meta skills and tools out of the Deep Democracy paradigm make the difference to success, both for the facilitator and for the participants.

Unlike “classical” democracy, which focuses on majority rule, Deep Democracy suggests that all voices, states of awareness, and frameworks of reality are important. Deep Democracy also suggests that all the information carried within these voices, levels of awareness, and frameworks is needed to understand the complete process of a system. Deep Democracy is an attitude that focuses on the awareness of voices that are both central and marginal.

This type of awareness can be focused on groups, organizations, one’s own inner experiences, people in conflict, etc. Allowing oneself to take seriously seemingly unimportant events and feelings can often bring unexpected solutions to both group and inner conflicts.
(www. deepdemocrayinstitute.org)

Decision making processes in groups, especially higher ranked teams, can get really challenging and complex: All members are starting from different values, interest, maturity levels, openness, intellectual potential, rank, power AND have to come to a point of essential agreement. This is a hurdle that many workshop processes do not overcome.

Worldwork focuses on all available information and information levels, beyond the consensus reality, to achieve sustainable development. People are supported in exploring the own position and experience the value of other positions in finding a solution.

With its tools and the awareness on power and rank Worldwork enables disagreement to be helpful and thereby be useful energy for building relationships and creating results.