Deep Democracy for Organisations

Effectively managing collaboration, team dynamics, and interpersonal relationships is not easy.

You might notice repeating problems with the following:

  • Decision making

  • Gaining real commitment to actions

  • Communication breakdowns

  • Enabling participation, engagement, self-responsibility

  • Being open to different views

  • Dealing with tension, paradox or conflict

Deep Democracy Training offers a powerful way of dealing with group dynamics and provides a method for making effective decisions, navigate difference and tension, create inclusive cultures, and unlock creativity and continuous learning.

Many leadership or organisational trainings offer great ways to grow yourself and/or your teams, but do not incorporate how to deal skilfully with unsaid dynamics and inherent differences that are present.

This course specifically shows people how to surface these unheard views including alternative views and tensions and turn them into energy for sustainable change.

Other ways this programme is different:

  • It’s preventative - equipping leaders and teams to spot and address tension, resistance, and confusion before they derail progress.

  • It blends deep personal growth with practical, proven tools that help you stay composed, aware and effective, especially in complex or difficult moments. Leadership effectiveness has less to do with methods or techniques and more with who the leader is and how you show up.

  • It’s not just theory for later, it’s finding solutions in real time. You’ll apply the tools to real-life challenges as you learn them.

  • It enhances the quality of your relationships, which is an essential element proven to influence both organisational results and the emotional satisfaction people experience at work.

Get started here, or read on for more about what you will learn…

  • “I thought the approach might be too 'prescriptive', or too 'hippy' but the training provided by Francesca completely dispelled my concerns. I have used it both to make better decisions and manage conflict more effectively. I was doing a workshop with an NHS team and I drew on the LDD methods. As the alternative / slightly dissenting perspective was brought into the conversation, I was: a) not worried about it, and b) able to handle it constructively as a result of the skills I learnt in the LDD training. The result was a much better conversation where we were able to properly address this alternative perspective. It is a great way to remove the fear around conflict or alternative perspectives, surface them in a safe way, and then harness them for better decision-making. It is a tool to support a wider cultural shift for you team or organisation. I would recommend all leaders learn about it.”

    Lydia Paris, Director

  • “The practice felt very grounded in theory and born out of very difficult conflicting time, which gives it weight. It deals head on with the more difficult parts of leadership. When seeing resistance behaviour, (I will now) address it openly straight away, instead of hoping it will just go away, and play around with reflection on my usual roles in situations. I will use the (tools) when I notice that polarity of opinion arises. These are hugely helpful tools that I can see I will be able to apply in different situations.”

    Nicole, Joint CEO

  • "Lots of practices teach you to diminish your power to make space for others. Deep Democracy teaches you to accept and own your power, and use it to create space for deep dialogue that surfaces alternate views, which makes for stronger, more trusting, and more transformative relationships with each other.”

    Julia, Director

  • “10 out of 10 learning. (Before the training) I had no concept of what Deep Democracy meant; it seemed very abstract and inaccessible. After the training, I feel like I "get it" - I understand many aspects of the theory behind it and can see how it can be applied. (I am now) aware of my role within a group and different ways of lowering the waterline of the group. I like the idea of leaning into conflict and finding ways of collective decision making which brings everyone along. I loved the modelling of the teaching and learning. Francesca was in the LDD persona the whole 3 days and we could constantly see the theory in practice, which really helped. I really appreciated all the practical elements to the training and being able to volunteer to facilitate a group debate."

    Lena Lorenz, Research Impact Manager

What you will learn:

Collaborative Decision Making

  • Solve problems and make decisions in participative ways that gain buy-in from all involved, without the need to reach consensus.

  • Facilitate dynamic conversations which unleash engagement and creativity.

  • Create safety in large or small groups for difficult conversations to take place.

  • Surface the wisdom of different views and improve decision- making by incorporating this valuable information.

Resolving Conflict and Tension

  • Successfully navigate disagreement and discomfort without retreating from it, avoiding tough decisions, accommodating or losing clarity.

  • Appropriately address “elephants in the room.”

  • Recognise the underlying tensions that block a group's progress, diagnose when group dynamics become polarised and rigid, and know what tools to use in such situations.

  • Resolve differences of opinions, arguments and conflicts instead of allowing anger and blaming to continue. Learn to unleash the creative potential that lies within every conflict.

  • Use tension as an opportunity for learning, growth and to improve relationships.

Improve organisational and team culture

  • Retain valuable people and stop the expensive revolving door of new recruits.

  • Create an emotionally mature culture where people can skilfully navigate anxiety, complex times and tough moments together with composure, courage, integrity, and candour.

  • Shift from siloed thinking to holistic collaboration, enabling cross-functional teams to work together effectively.

  • Develop leaders with finely tuned listening skills who can understand team concerns and take skilful, responsible, and confident action with emotional maturity.

Understanding Group Dynamics

  • Read the dynamics of a group, pick up on the early signs of resistance and emerging conflict and act in a timely manner to reduce tension.

  • Understand the obstacles to good communication, learn to listen and pay attention to different viewpoints.

  • Observe group dynamics that exist beyond individuals and manage them for more effective collaboration.

  • Begin and end meetings with a powerful way to connect the group and get a handle on what is happening in the room.

It’s for:

  • Teams or groups

  • Heads of Teams, Senior Leaders, Project Managers

  • Groups of C-suite leaders and Directors

“It has already changed the most challenging parts of my work”

“At first I was sceptical, and thought there might be too much emotion for work, then I realised that was the genius of it. It takes account of the whole person, digs for what they aren't sure they can say, and makes it safe for them to do it. I found it hugely valuable and it has already changed how I approach the most challenging parts of my work.

In learning to understand one another better as a group, we will treat one another with more respect and will be more mindful of what is being brought into the room that isn't visible.”

Hazel Lambert, Head of Communications, University of Edinburgh

I want to hear from you.

Let’s have an interesting conversation together about making life at work more meaningful, valuable and people positive.