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Building

Common Ground

Social licence for complex public policy

Background

Reform to address the big issues we face is becoming harder.

As a society we are becoming more divided and less trusting of each other and government.

This loss of trust is affecting government’s social licence to address sticky and complex public policy issues.

Now more than ever, governments need to work with communities and stakeholders to go on a journey of reform. We need processes that help us enable communities and stakeholders to intentionally build ‘common ground’ – where it may not yet exist.

This involves communities and or stakeholders going on a journey with government. It involves working together to find a way that most of us can ‘live with’ the way forward.

Overview

This training introduces the concept of common ground- exploring why it matters and how it can be used to support policy development on complex, divisive issues. Through reflection, discussion, and real-world case studies, participants examine trust, self-interest, and the impact of their own mindsets on achieving effective and impactful engagement.  

The session highlights that creating common ground is not automatic but depends on intentional design, focusing on four key elements:

  1. People – involving the right mix,
  2. Space – creating space for perspectives to shift,
  3. Shared Truth – Building shared understanding through trusted information, and
  4. Process – ensuring respectful, well-facilitated processes
Register Here

Key Learnings

Participants will gain the following learning outcomes

  1. Clear understanding of what common ground means in a deliberative context and how it helps to address complex public issues.
  2. Personal insights – ‘aha’ moments regarding their own ‘mindset’s and how it affects how it impacts on their approach to engagement and consequential public policy
  3. Practical steps for achieving common ground —
    1. How to attract diverse participants – move beyond the loud voices
    2. How to frame issues for effective conversation across divides
    3. How to foster shared learning and trust in information, and
    4. How to create respectful, well-facilitated environments that enable meaningful dialogue and agreement.

Sessions

Our next online training session is on: Tuesday 1st September, 2026

Register HERE – https://events.humanitix.com/finding-common-ground-with-democracyco-improving-the-legitimacy-of-public-policy

Can’t make this session?

Please email Emma Fletcher at – [email protected] to let her know and she will be back in touch when new training opportunities become available.