Deep Democracy Training
Attended by Georgina Veldhorst
Deep Democracy
The Art of Effective Decision Making
White and Yellow Belt Training
May 31 - June 1, 2007
Venue - Toronto, Ontario
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?
How do we gain true buy-in and commitment within a team?
Deep Democracy is an advanced facilitation paradigm and toolkit for leaders, managers, consultants, teachers and facilitators - anyone who wants to work more effectively with teams where conflict and tensions slow progress. Deep Democracy is based on the work of Arnold Mindell. Developed by Myrna and Greg Lewis, it assisted businesses in South Africa in building a new paradigm of shared leadership and racial equity as apartheid was dissolving. Over the last 15 years hundreds of people have been trained and are using the Deep Democracy method. It is practiced widely in business, community and public sector organizations in the United Kingdom, Europe and South Africa it has also been introduced in Russia, Israel, Zimbabwe, Iraq and North America.
In this introductory training you will learn the basic framework and tools of Deep Democracy - and you can begin to use it right away. The course will provide a practical framework through which individuals, teams and groups can make infinitely more productive decisions. You will learn to uncover and address the "elephants" or blockages that cause difficulty and pain.
The basic assumption of Deep Democracy is that there is enormous wisdom and value in conflicting opinions. From this starting point, true and deep buy-in can be built. This approach creates consensus which recognizes and includes the wisdom inherent in minority views, rather than ignoring it or overriding it. The method works where there are emotional, rather than rational issues and creates heightened awareness at an individual and group level of the unconscious processes that can 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 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.
In this training you will gain skills and tools that will enable you to:
• Run a different kind "check in" process that will uncover the dynamics and underlying field of the group
• "Sort the field", or differentiate between individuals and emotions, opinions and roles in the group's dynamics
• Facilitate decisions that secure real buy-in and commitment
• Deliver a "climate report" to raise group awareness and facilitate decisions
• Amplify what is happening, help people say what needs to be said and uncover the real issues.
• Help individuals find their own solutions to complex emotionally charged issues through Reflective Listening.
• Recognize when a group is avoiding facing underlying issues that are blocking them from achieving what they want
• Recognize when there is terrorist behaviour, unconsciously avoiding and/or blocking forward movement.
Through this training you will also gain a heightened awareness of:
· The roles you may unwittingly adopt in a group
· The impact of your ability to be compassionate and maintain neutrality
· How to connect to what is happening within yourself and apply that insight to facilitate more effectively
· A profound understanding of the decision making process
Trainers:
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 change agents http://www.pioneersofchange.net/ . 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. She is working to transplant Deep Democracy to North America. She currently live in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she serves on the Governing Council of the Shambhala Institute for Authentic Leadership http://www.shambhalainstitute.org/
Pamela Venebles - is one of Capgemini Consulting's most experienced transformation leaders, with over 12 years experience in central government, life sciences, service and manufacturing industry sectors. She specializes in the leadership of transformational change and executive coaching at Board level, especially using capability and team development techniques. She is skilled in the use of change management techniques and is one of the world's leading practitioners of Deep Democracy.
The training will take place at BMO Financial Group Institute for Learning
The Institute for Learning is located at 3550 Pharmacy Ave, Scarborough, in northeast Toronto. The institute is accessible by major highways and is 25 minutes by car from Toronto Pearson International Airport. Limited accommodations for overnight guests are available in one of the 150 comfortable guest rooms designed for private single occupancy. For more information contact Melissa Bell at 416-864-6060 x 3294
The White & Yellow Belt training will take place Thursday, May 31 to Friday, June 1
We will gather at 9am on Thursday and end no later than 4pm on Friday.
To register, please contact Fred Witteveen at fwitteveen@rogers.com or
(416) 245-6240. Make cheque or money order to V-W Consulting and mail to 177 Church Street, Weston, Ontario M9N 1N6.
Registration and payment deadline: May 15, 2006
Note: places are limited to a maximum of 15 participants; please submit your
Registration soon to secure a spot!
The cost of the training is $1,800 CDN (before April 1), 2,175 (after April 1) including light breakfast, lunch and continuous refreshments.
We offer a reduced cost of $1,300 (before April 1), $1,450 (after April 1) for participants from the not-for-profit sector.
Need more information on Deep Democracy? Go to www.deep-democracy.net