Thread by @leen_schelfhout

Having a meeting today & want to include more voices? What about trying this magic question, especially when you feel a first majority vote showing: ‘And who is still sitting on a completely different idea?’ Try it! And watch people embrace the created space! #deepdemocracy

Is someone expressing a concern or no-voice in your meetings today? Don’t put it away as annoying. Tap into the wisdom that is hiding in it and ask this magical question to the group: ‘Who recognizes this?’ Spread it and watch how people connect and feel valued. #deepdemocracy

Facilitate your team to a ‘consent’ decision, not a lousy compromise. How? By sticking to the best idea (majority vote after thorough brainstorm) and explicitly asking the no-voices this magical question: ‘What do you need to come along with this idea?’ #deepdemocray

Words of Myrna Lewis today as a reminder for when interactions feel challenging: « It is through our relationships with others that we get to know ourselves. By interacting and connecting we see who we are, what we are now, and how we come across. Choose to look. » #deepdemocracy

Efficiency tool for meetings: a temperature check 🌡. Lean out of the meeting & name what you see. Start with ‘I notice that’ (e.g. only 2 people are talking, there’s chaos, distraction, circling around the topic, etc.) Leave it to the group to solve it. Make space #deepdemocracy

Never start a meeting w/o a check in! Work with a question, personal or related to the topic. Give everyone space to answer, arrive & connect. Facilitating? Summarize out loud the voices you heard in the check in. This is where the group is. Thís is the potential. #deepdemocracy

To move from democracy to #deepdemocracy with your team, make time for these questions: What does it feel like to be here? Who is (un)comfortable? Who is dreaming something? What are you feeling at this moment? Create space for people to be in the moment. Start there.

If we don’t pay attention, our decision making process repeats power play, even when everyone speaks. Democracy is then an outer form of (majority) power, not an inner form of awareness of needs, pains, joy, dreams, for yourself and the group. We need to dive in. #deepdemocracy

A ‘no voice’ is like sunlight after grey and foggy winter days. It shines through, barely visible, but it’s definitely there. Ignore it and you lose its power, a chance to grow. Amplify it, embrace, and it will enlighten you and everyone else. ✨❄️ #WinterSolstice #deepdemocracy

Suggested check in question for your meetings today: “Name three things you are grateful for and one thing that you dream of.” (Can be personal or work related.) Practice gratitude and dreaming with the team, it works wonders!✨ #wellbeing #deepdemocracy @GravityDAO 🙏🏻

Last one before winter break, a #deepdemocracy mindset classic: «We don’t see the world the way it is, we see the world the way we are.» It’s all perspective, no way of taking ourselves out of what we claim is ‘true’. Might come in handy discussing politics at dinner table. 🙂