Here’s the big idea behind a Civic Assembly: groups can be smarter than individuals.

But it’s not automatic. 
Groups aren’t always wise. 
Sometimes they just follow whoever talks first - or loudest. 

In the right conditions, though, groups can get wiser, because each person brings different information, experiences, and concerns.

Imagine this: you’re the CEO of a dog food company, and because of a massive overstock, you need to sell one billion extra dog biscuits. 

You have a room full of smart people who work for you, and they’re relying on you to make a wise decision.

When it’s time to make your decision, do you rely only on what's in your own head? Or do you draw on thinking of people who see the problem differently than you do?

The second option gives you a better chance of making a smart call.

Collective Wisdom doesn’t happen just because people are polite or because they talk for a long time. Collective Wisdom happens when people with different perspectives share their reasoning, surface real disagreements, compare alternatives, and wrestle with tradeoffs in service of a Shared Goal.

That’s when a group becomes smarter than any one person could be alone. 
That’s Collective Wisdom.

In your Civic Assembly, different perspectives aren’t an obstacle. 
They’re a strength.