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Deep Democracy for a good conversation a better conflict and the best decision

blog by Ingrid van Aert and Marlies Leupen – 15 April 2020
Are you sure you are able to hear the different ideas of somebody else? What happens when your idea is (slightly) different from the rest and nobody is listening? Do you recognize how difficult co-working sometimes can be?

We were looking forward to Pleasure Island, the project week that NITE would have organized last week for 120 first-year students of ArtEZ in Arnhem. Students would have been working interdisciplinary in a beautiful outdoor location and we would have given in a short workshop some tools on how to do that in an inclusive way: discussing and making decisions together. Unfortunately it turned out completely differently. Corona entered our reality and now we are all looking for working together without being together physically. Working together has also been difficult in other times.

To give space to all the voices in a group or team and to maximize the wisdom of this group, it's inspiring to learn more about a new way of thinking: Deep Democracy. This philosophy and method gives you tools to keep talking to each other in an open and constructive way, whether you meet each other physically or online. It is a tool to start difficult conversations and get as many issues on the table as possible, also in online meetings. It helps you to make decisive decisions, even if you do not immediately agree.

Here a Toolkit Co-Creating & Deep Democracy and find in it three rituals that are of value when you will work together.

Ingrid van Aert and Marlies Leupen