Deliberate Deliberation

December 2, 2010 by Suebdoo.

Deliberation means “thoughtful or careful consideration, without hurry.” Everything in our world seems to go by so fast; speed is king and slowing down means you might get run over. Many accept this as the way we must operate to exist in a twenty-first century reality, but how can we maintain this break-neck rate? We can’t. We shouldn’t. Gosh, I hope we don’t!

Quick decisions are rarely the best decisions. Oh sure, there are times when someone may be faced with having to make an immediate judgment call - but those folks live in the realm of “life or death” kinds of situations - and the people that make those decisions are generally trained, or well experienced enough, to make them.  Most decisions we make, especially those in the workplace or the public arena, are not going to cost a life in the next hour.

If the outcome is important (and if you/your company are spending any time on it - it had better be important) it is worth allotting an appropriate time commitment to get it right. Especially if you are working in government or any endeavor that effects, interests, or needs the public citizenry, allowing time for deliberation is the critical component. Yes, it takes planning to factor time into the decision equation, but that is part of being deliberate - intentional.

Recently, the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD) held a conference in Austin Texas where a giant room full of people - community members, public officials, collaboration practitioners - came to confirm the importance of thoughtful, intentional, dialogue to solve the big issues. It was an affirming moment to see so many people say “enough is enough with the yelling” because, clearly, nothing is accomplished in that scenario as we have seen. The NCDD provided a good set of core principles for Public Engagement:

1. Careful Planning and Preparation

2. Inclusion and Demographic Diversity

3. Collaboration and Shared Purpose

4. Openness and Learning

5. Transparency and Trust

6. Impact and Action

7. Sustained Engagement and Participatory Culture

Speediness was not on the list. For more information on these seven principles, download the Resource Guide on Public Engagement here.

There is a reason why Aesop’s fable of the Tortoise and the Hare has endured since before the 16th Century; time may fly, but the slow and steady wins the race in the end.

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