Participative Leadership Programme

Who is it for?

This programme is for University of Edinburgh research and academic staff. The programme uses the Lewis Method to support research leaders (in this method, defined as anyone who works alongside others to create impact - it does not refer to hierarchy necessarily) to navigate tension and conflict in their work dynamics, and create participative cultures. This programme is likely to be useful to a range of research leaders who want to build democratic leadership skills and deal with conflict in teams to create healthy, highly impactful cultures through the power of participation.

Do you recognise any of these common organisational challenges?

• Lots of energy is going into making your culture and impact the best it can be, but challenging interpersonal dynamics keep coming up that veer you off track?
• There is a lack of confidence or safety to say what needs to be said and have more open conversations? Perhaps a culture of politeness or on the flip side, overly assertive?
• The same topics keep getting discussed in circular conversations?
• Lots of following but not a lot of initiative?
• Frustration or stress is building due to internal divisiveness, or unproductive pieces of work?
• Repeatedly getting stuck in decision making limbo, or not achieving the buy-in needed to proceed with decisions?
• There are a few people who generate all the ideas or action, without much engagement from others?
• People are not really speaking to one another, excuses, gossip, cliques, and/or postponement are common roadblocks to effectively communicating?
• There’s lots of staring and silence in meetings, and not much dialogue?
• The idea of dealing with tension is secretly scary, therefore, it just gets avoided?
• You’ve done EDI training but unsure how to implement processes that truly build inclusive, participative cultures (and there may be doubts that this is even possible, especially within a hierarchy)?

If you’ve answered yes to any of those, there is a good chance Lewis Deep Democracy (“The Lewis Method”) Foundations will support you.

What can I expect?

This three-day training programme will give participants the theoretical background and experiential learning opportunities that they need to begin using the powerful and unique tools of Lewis Deep Democracy in their day-to-day work environments. This internationally acclaimed methodology offers a practical toolkit which improves culture and unlocks the potential inherent within teams and groups through collaborative decision-making and constructive conflict transformation. The methodology is particularly useful for supporting groups resolve relationship and group dynamic difficulties that arise from dealing with inherent differences or emotional charge.

You will learn:

• How to understand team dynamics
  • Read the dynamics of a group, recognise early signs of resistance/emerging conflict, understand the root causes of conflict and polarisation and how it manifests within group dynamics.
  • Learn tools for dealing with tension in a timely manner. Skilfully diagnose and intervene in situations where people are stuck.
  • Understand the obstacles to good communication and develop new ways of speaking and sharing views that enable a culture of understanding.
• Practices that enable inclusive, participative cultures
  • Share your own views and opinions while authentically encouraging others to share their own (even if they are different to yours). Facilitate dynamic conversations that enable diverse opinions to be heard.
  • Make decisions that gain buy-in and establish responsibility, while weaving in diverse points of view.
  • Unleash creativity and engagement, whilst maintaining boundaries and leadership.
  • Harness the power of collective intelligence by learning techniques to enable quiet participants to be heard.
• Tools to manage tension and conflict
  • Shift how you relate to tension and conflict, and understand the creative possibility conflict offers, as well as it’s potential to strengthen relationships. Use tension as an opportunity to enhance learning and relationships.
  • Resolve relational and group tension or conflict instead of allowing anger and blaming to bubble away or escalate.
  • Deliver simple, key statements that address “elephants in the room”.
  • Create spaces where conflicting views can be expressed and heard, fostering high trust, participative, innovative, and respectful cultures.

Testimonials

“It’s rare to find a training opportunity that transforms the way you relate to others across all areas of your life"

"It teaches you to accept and own your power, and use it to create space for deep dialogue that surfaces alternate views, which makes for stronger, more trusting, and more transformative relationships with each other”

"This training increased my confidence to lean into tension and conflict in such a way that I can be of service to myself and others in resolving it. In my professional leadership role, I’ve found the Deep Democracy skills invaluable for participative decision-making”

The programme is facilitated by Francesca Pagni, InFrame Leadership Developer at the Edinburgh Research Office, who is a licensed practitioner for the Lewis Method. 

On completion participants will receive a certificate and access to materials through the Lewis Deep Democracy foundation.

Upcoming programme dates and eligibility

The programme will run over three days on 27 & 28 April and 7 May 2026, 9:30-16:30 each day. Please be aware that you must be able to attend all three full days of the programme in order to be eligible. The programme is open to all University of Edinburgh research conducting staff who work alongside others to create impact. 

Book a place

Spaces are limited to 12 people. You can book a place via People & Money (UoE staff log-in required).