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Deep Democracy and Organization Development: A New Approach to Resistance and Collaboration
October 26, 2022 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EDT

The idea that every consulting project will go smoothly, without a bit of conflict, is a lovely dream. But it’s just that: a dream. Whenever people come together to share expertise, design something, or implement a plan, we encounter differences, yet people at work are not adept at creating healthy spaces to explore opposing points of view.
Frequently, one point of view wins while other views go underneath the surface and turn into resistance. Unfortunately, these voices of resistance often represent those who hold lower positional power in our organizations, who belong to groups that have been marginalized within the United States, or who simply represent ways of thinking—voices that are desperately needed in order to sustain resilient, flexible, and agile organizations. Many times, organizational leaders find out too late that there was truth in what the voices of resistance had to say and regret not understanding this truth sooner. As OD practitioners, we have many tools that can help people have conversations in productive ways.
In this session, we will introduce participants to the Lewis Method of Deep Democracy, a methodology created in South Africa to help organizations recover from the trauma of apartheid and develop equitable organizations. Deep Democracy uses a group-as-a-whole perspective to help shift participants away from individualistic blaming and shaming to collective explorations of what is valued, important, and necessary. The tools are simple enough to be learned quickly. They can be used for a range of situations from light, cognitive differences of opinion to deep, emotional conflicts in values. Please join us if you are interested in adding a new tool to your toolkit for working with resistance, change, conflict, and collaboration.
A recording will be sent to attendees following the webinar, and will be available for on-demand purchase within three business days.
Fee
OD Network Members: $25
Non-Members: $45
SHRM Professional Development Credits
OD Network is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP℠ or SHRM-SCP℠. This program is valid for 1.0 PDCs for the SHRM-CP℠ or SHRM-SCP℠. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.
Presented by
Maya Townsend
Maya Townsend brings diverse groups together to tackle complex, systemic challenges. She works with corporations, community groups, and nonprofits to help identify strategies, mobilize networks, lead change, and resolve conflict. Co-editor of Handbook for Strategic HR (AMACOM), her writing on networks, change leadership, and business ecosystems has appeared in strategy+business, People & Strategy, Nonprofit Quarterly, and other publications. Past clients include the Austin Healthy Adolescent Initiative, Bayer, Biogen, Cambridge Community Development, Fidelity, Hanover Insurance, Headspace, Open Sky Community Services, and ZUMIX. She holds an MSOD from American University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Leadership & Change through Antioch University.
Ipek Utun
Ipek Utun’s passion is to contribute to a world where people dare and commit to live and lead with their full potential, with love and strength. Ipek is an ICF-certified PCC level Coach, ORSCC Certified Relationship and Systems Coach, Certified Shadow Work Group Facilitator and Personal Coach, and Certified Deep Democracy Facilitator, Trainer, and Elder. She has extensive experience in coaching and training C-level executives, senior leadership teams, women leadership groups as well as facilitating small to big group processes which hold an emotional charge, polarization, and divisiveness. Ipek’s differentiating edge is her capacity to work with the deeper patterns driving complex situations and enabling personal or systemic transformation.