The case for deep democracy
Also what victim advocacy work and coaching have in common
Hello and welcome new subscribers! Some of you are receiving Cento for the first time after participating in the workshop Eric Kohner and I led a week ago on emotional intelligence in writing — thank you again for attending, and please reach out if you’d like to connect. (Several people stayed a few minutes after we concluded, giving us the chance to talk through a few specific cases, and it was great.)
We’re offering this workshop again on Thursday, March 27, 10a PT if you want to encourage others to attend. Use code COMP at checkout and it’s no charge.
I want to write about the idea of “deep democracy” because it’s been on my mind. Deep democracy is a great tool to use in working with teams, committees, and even with the self — it’s especially useful for those who play a critical role in advancing, teaching, and demonstrating the values and principles of civic engagement.
Deep democracy has been defined as a political philosophy, a facilitation method, a way of bringing democracy to life, a practical technique to make invisible group dynamics visible, allowing the facilitator to intervene, a POV that values minority (as opposed to majority) perspectives, and a way to foster richer dialogue and inclusivity.
It has been applied to all sorts of conflicts, from terrorism, to revolution, to corporation tensions, to government leadership. Trained, skilled facilitators are essential to guide the process when the stakes are high — and even in ordinary circumstances, this is a skill for advanced facilitators. It also requires a modicum of psychological safety within the team, and the team’s ability to adopt a curious, open approach, considering all points of view, maintaining high regard for those who offer alternative perspectives.
Let’s assume all of this is true. Here’s how a facilitator would guide the process:
Collect all perspectives (even those opposing your own)
Actively look for the alternative voices (“Does anybody think something completely different?”)
Spread the alternative (“Who shares this opinion? Who else could take a stand for this opinion?”)
Add the wisdom of the minority to the decision of the majority (“What do you need to go along with the decision of the majority?”)
Switching topics, this week marks the midpoint of my training with The Center to become a nationally-certified victim advocate.
Victim advocates help victims of crime (or those facing systemic challenges) connect with resources—housing, healthcare, legal aid, etc. They also provide emotional support. Think of it at the crossroads of psychology, sociology, public health, criminal justice, and coaching.
When I first learned of this field, I thought it sounded similar to coaching except working with a different population. That’s proven to be true in a few ways. Here are a few principles, mindsets, that transcend both coaching and victim advocacy work:
Hold the client’s agenda. Trust that individuals know what they want and need. They know what’s best, so no imposing your agenda.
Assume people are resourceful, resilient, and whole. People who seek help are resilient by nature, and they’ve already demonstrated a desire for and capacity to seek assistance. Honor this. Be their champion, and remember that change takes time. (And you don’t get to decide how much.)
Participate in collaborative conversations. No fixing, no advising, no setting straight. Approach conversations with cultural humility—be open to learning about others’ cultures, reflect on your own, and demonstrate respect.
If you are a coach seeking a new challenge, or a rewarding, tangible way to volunteer, I encourage you to consider becoming a victim advocate too. (Also note, there are two kinds of advocates: systems-based, which are going to work within a system, such as the law or healthcare, and community-based, which is what I am interested in, which is helping individuals find resources within the community at large.)
The training itself, from my experience, is more focused on learning about challenges clients may face and resources available to help — the more tactical stuff — so layering this with your skills as a coach is superb. In short, the field needs you.
Please reach out if you want to talk about my experience! I do wish everyone could train at The Center though, where you get an extra 20-or-so hours of instruction specific to the LBGTQI+ community. All of my training is free, too. The commitment I make in return is to volunteer five hours a week. (This has made a huge impact on me, and I will share more next week.)
Two people, in separate conversations, commented to me last week that my writing is philosophical. Another person, a poet, told me it’s poetry (after I mentioned that life doesn’t feel poetic these days.) I agree with both descriptions, though I want this newsletter to be practical and relevant, too. It’s my stance that there’s an abundance of easily-digestible content about coaching and positive psychology online, but there isn’t much that explores it personally and in context of the social sector.
It’s also my stand that everyone would benefit from learning coaching skills, from managers, to parents, to partners, to journalists. I’m a bit of an evangelist because I think it’s that important.
How do we show up? Who do we want to be? What are you taking a stand for?