ResolutionsRTK

Team Democracy - making the most of the power in your group

Suzi Jotwani
Manager
Resolve

Now here's an interesting idea:

What if you could access the wisdom of your
entire team when you need to make a decision, solve a problem, implement a project, or resolve an issue?

You know what it's like. When you get the team together you are likely to see one or both of the following team dilemmas:

1. The majority time trials

You are trying to get your team to make a
decision that requires everyone'ssupport. Discussion has been going on – and around
and around – for ages, and someone in the group
is being particularly resistant.

2. Speak now or forever hold your peace

You have a few people in your group who are always quiet. You want them to speak up and hear what they have to say, but when you try, they clam up even more.

The ultimate aim of any team decision-making exercise is consensus, though in more contentious cases, it is goal many will assume is both impractical and impossible. Yet by 'embedding' the vocal and silent dissident opinions of the group in the decisions of the majority, consensus can circumvent the potential for members to sabotage (consciously or unconsciously) the successful implementation of the decision, thereby saving the attendant costs to people and projects in time, effort, and impact on relationships. It is the idea that the minority is happy to go along with the majority decision that is unrealistic in this approach to managing difficult team dynamics.

Deep Democracy is a facilitation methodology for all sorts of groups, based on the idea that there is wisdom in the minority voice and in the diversity of viewpoints that has value for the whole group. The approach also helps to 'surface' and give expression to what is otherwise left unsaid.

Going beyond conventional group decision making processes, such as compromise and majority rule, it is a process that recognises and effectively integrates minority voices; thereby creating wiser, more sustainable agreements, with 100 per cent buy-in.

Deep Democracy facilitators use a number of techniques to access the wisdom of the group.

The first four steps are:

Gain all the views in the group.
Make it safe to say 'no', or disagree with the majority.
Spread the 'no' – prevent scapegoating.
Ask "what do you need to come along?"

Deep Democracy applications include:

Transformation and change
Culture change
Working with diversity
Gender and racial tension
Team building
Strategy development
Innovative and creative solutions
Training and development
Conflict resolution
Stakeholder engagement
Disputes
Mergers and acquisitions
Improved performance and decision making
Learning organisations

If you want to know more:

Deep Democracy Foundation Program: Bojer, Mille, Deep Democracy in Relation to Dialogue Processes (commissioned by the GTZ on behalf of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, SA).

To explore how Deep Democracy facilitation could work in your team or organisation, contact the Develop and Resolve teams at ResolutionsRTK by calling the General Manager, Andrew Carnegie on 03 8681 2431, or the Manager of our Resolve unit, Suzi Jotwani on 03 8681 2432.