Deep democracy in teams: Stop talking, start deciding

Everyone knows this moment...

You schedule a 50-minute meeting because the next one is already waiting. It’s your third today and the topic is sensitive. A decision has to be made.
Then it starts. People talk. A lot. The louder voices dominate. The quieter ones hold back, not because they don’t have an opinion, but because they don’t feel comfortable speaking up.

After 50 minutes, there’s still no decision. The clock keeps ticking. People keep talking. The leader allows it, hoping something will come out. A few colleagues have already checked out, scrolling through their laptops.

And you think: how much work could we have done in this hour? The sprint won’t solve itself…

Deep democracy

How it could be different

Imagine the exact same meeting. Same people. Same topic. Same 50 minutes. But this time, you leave with a decision.

What deep democracy is (in simple terms)

Deep democracy is a way of making decisions where all voices are heard. Especially the minority view. Not to talk longer, but to listen better and then make a clear choice.

The steps you can use right away

✅ Step 1 – set the decision question (1 min)
Say it out loud: What option are we choosing for X?

✅ Step 2 – one-sentence input per person (5–7 min)
One by one. No debate. Write it on the board.

✅ Step 3 – cluster and summarize (2–3 min)
Group points into 3–5 themes. Read them back.

✅ Step 4 – minority voice (5 min)
Ask directly: What are we missing if we choose option A?
Capture insights only, not repetition.

✅ Step 5 – make a choice (1 min)
State it clearly: We’ll go with A for the next 2 weeks.

✅ Step 6 – make it actionable (3–5 min)
- Who owns it?
- What’s the first step today?
- When will we evaluate and what will we check?

✅ Step 7 – space for objections later (1 min)
Invite people to flag signals afterward. If X happens, we want to know.

Result: every voice is heard. The minority view becomes a risk radar. And you leave with a clear decision with ownership, first step and follow-up.

Why this works

  • 🎯 Focus by sticking to one decision question.

  • 🧠 Minority wisdom reduces blind spots without slowing you down.

  • 🤝 Commitment because people feel genuinely heard.

  • 🚀 Action by assigning ownership and a check-in moment.

Try it tomorrow in 10 minutes

  • 👆 Start the meeting with: Today we’re deciding X.

  • 🗒️ One sentence per person, visible to all.

  • 🧭 Ask explicitly: What are we missing if we pick A?

  • ✅ Decide. Assign ownership. Schedule a quick check in 2 weeks.

Simple. And that’s the difference between “lots of talk” and “real decisions.”

Final thought

Deep democracy isn’t about endless meetings. It’s about moving forward. Teams that use it gain time, energy and trust.

👉 Want to practice this right away? Subscribe to my newsletter. You’ll get a small exercise you can try tomorrow.