Often, the topics we facilitate at DemocracyCo are controversial or polarising and will evoke very strong emotions and positions from people – especially from people who may be affected by a final decision or outcome.
Our role as facilitators is to guide people thought a well-designed process, helping them understand different views, facts, opinions and perspectives; and then reconcile these differences and agree together on the best path forward.
We do this by embedding deliberative and democratic facilitation principles into everything we do.
Over the past 12 months, this has included exploring and training groups in the concept of Democracy Fitness – a program from Denmark that recognises that democratic participation requires practice. It develops skills such as active listening, using your voice, forming and developing opinions, exploring disagreement, mobilizing each other and finding good compromises in a fast-paced world.
Democracy Fitness focuses our attention on ten key abilities that support active participation in democracy. It’s a bit like going to the gym: each “muscle” strengthens through use. Some might be used only occasionally, but the more you work them, the stronger they become — and so does your democratic fitness.
Most (if not all) of the engagement projects we support requires people to “flex’’ a variety of these deliberative muscles. At DemocracyCo we often run short activities with groups to get them to practice and use them in a positive way, supporting group dynamics and understanding.
It gives me a real ‘buzz’ watching people practice their democratic skills. My favourite activity focusses on our ‘Disagreement Muscle’. People are paired up and role-play a conversation where they disagree on a controversial topic. Many people are not used to disagreeing well – yet in a healthy democratic society, it’s essential. It’s almost impossible to listen deeply and understand different perspectives, when we are upset or defensive.
The Democracy Fitness training allows groups to tailor their own training program, by choosing which of the 10 different muscles they want to explore. Each activity is fun and energising, and accessible for everyone; leaders, staff and community members alike.
Reach out to discuss a bespoke training program for your organisation or community.
DemocracyCo is the only registered Australian training provider of Democracy Fitness