The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures: Simple Rules to Unleash A Culture of Innovation (36 page)

• The client has a specific amount of time to present and ask for help
  
• The primary consulting team has a fixed amount of time to offer help
  
• Everyone else on each consulting team has an equal opportunity to contribute help during the balance of the time, which is also fixed
  

• Individual client
  
• One group of 2 to 3 primary consultants
  
• Any number of satellite groups of 5 to 7 people as consulting teams
  
• Mixed groups across functions, levels, and disciplines are ideal
  

• The
  client presents his or her consulting question and selects the 2-4 individuals who will form the primary consulting team. The primary consultants move and occupy their chairs in the front of the room. 2 min.
  
• The client presents the challenge and request for help. 10 min.
  
• The primary consultants pose clarifying questions to the client, using microphones so that all participants can hear them. 10 min.
  
• The client turns his or her back to the primary consultants and gets ready to take notes.
  
• The primary consultants jointly form advice and recommendations, working as a team while the client has his or her back turned. Microphones are used so that all others in the room can follow their discussion. 7 min.
  
• Every satellite consulting team separately critiques the work of the primary consulting team and generates its own recommendations for the client. 10 min.
  
• While the satellite teams work, the client turns around and uses this ten-minute period to discuss with the primary consulting team.
  
• Do one round to gather the critiques from the satellite teams first and then a second round to gather their recommendations. Gather only one comment or recommendation per team, with no repeats. It may be useful to ask the satellite teams to write their recommendations for the client on 3-by-5-inch index cards. 10 min.
  
• The client provides feedback to the consultants: what was useful and what he or she takes away. 2 min.
  
• Invite a full-group conversation reflecting on the process, so what, and now what. 5 min.
  
• NOTE: The timing for each step can be adjusted depending on the complexity of the problem and the size of the group, but it is essential to stick strictly to the schedule and not let discussions drag beyond the time set. It is always better to have a second round instead.
  

• For multisite research/learning groups to support and learn from each other
  
• For professionals in a national fellowship program to share progress and get help with the action learning projects
  
• To
  replace progress presentations and reviews
  
• For managers trying to solve problems associated with a merger
  
• For foundation grantees trying to scale up their socio-tech innovations
  
• For getting advice on improving a relationship with one other person
  
• For salespeople (distributed over a large geography) getting help with developing and keeping new customers
  

•
  
Invite all the participants to gather in small groups to listen to one another’s thoughts and reflect together on a shared challenge while respecting six dialogue agreements.

• Unlimited number of 5 to 7 chairs around small tables
  
• Talking object (e.g., talking stick, stone, or art object)
  
• Markers and one or two pieces of flip-chart paper per table optional
  

• Everyone is included
  
• Everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute
  

•
  
Mixed, diverse groups of 5–7 participants

• State the theme of the conversation, usually in the form of a question
  
• Explain there will be four rounds of conversation at every table, two first rounds using a talking object, the third one as open conversation, and a final round with the talking object. Give the duration of each round.
  
• Distribute the talking objects
  
• Read
  the six
  Conversation Café
  agreements. See text in Collateral Material below.
  
• Ask for someone at each table to volunteer as the host. The host is a full participant whose role is to gently intervene only when a participant visibly fails to observe one of the six agreements, most frequently talking on and on
  
• First round with the talking object: each person shares what he or she is thinking, feeling, or doing about the theme or topic. 1 min. per person
  
• Second round with the talking object: each person shares thoughts and feelings after having listened to everybody at the table. 1 min. per person
  
• Third round: open conversation (option to use talking object). 20–40 min.
  
• Fourth round with the talking object: each member shares “takeaways.” 5–10 min.
  

• Make sense of a complex, difficult, or painful situation and lay the ground for being able to move on
  
• Generate new ideas and momentum for innovation
  
• Build shared understanding of how people develop different perspectives and ideas
  
• Avoid arguments based on lack of understanding
  
• Build trust and reduce fear with an opportunity for catharsis
  
• Help participants appreciate that conversation involves talking and listening
  

• Always use the talking object: they make the difference
  
• Have the host or participants reread the six agreements before starting the first round
  
• Do not assign tasks: there should be no intention that the dialogue will directly lead to action
  
• Host the dialogue like a dinner party, encouraging everyone to contribute while keeping the conversation open-ended and spontaneous
  
• Use
  Wicked Questions
  to deepen conversation
  
• If
  there is a problem, ask, “Are we following our agreements?”
  
• Encourage people to speak their mind
  
• Encourage quiet people to talk
  
• Select talking objects that may have symbolic meaning for participants
  
• Encourage participants to draw or record insights on the flip-chart “tablecloth”
  
• Learn more from Vicki Robin and friends, who created the Conversation Café for use in communities @
  www.conversationcafe.org
  

• All participants but one at each table can move to different tables every 20 minutes World-Café style (see
  www.worldcafe.com
  for more information).
  
• Link to Graphic Recording. Place flip-chart paper on each table to collect insights from each group. Encourage drawing and playful exploration.
  
• To move into action, string together with
  W
  ³
  (What, So What, Now What?), 15% Solutions, Design StoryBoards, User Experience Fishbowl
  , or
  Open Space
  .
  

Below: a talking object invites deeper listening in Paris

• For making sense of and start recovering from a major setback or shock in the market or operating environment (e.g., first used in US communities after 9/11)
  
• For exploring a new topic or trend that is not well understood
  
• For handling a topic where there will be strong feelings expressed
  
• For reflecting after a major change: What does it mean? What assumptions can we make? What conclusions make sense? What can we now believe?
  

Below: presentation materials we use to introduce Conversation Café

“A designer knows perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add but when there is nothing more that can be taken away.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

• In the context of a challenging activity or a new initiative, invite the participants to first generate the entire list of all the do’s and don’ts that they should pay attention to in order to achieve a successful outcome. This is the list of maximum specifications (Max Specs).
  
• After the list of Max Specs has been developed, ask the participants to reduce it to the absolute minimum needed to achieve their purpose. Invite them to sift through the list one item at a time and eliminate every rule that gets a positive answer to the question, “If we broke or ignored this rule, could we still achieve our purpose?”
  

• Groups of 4 to 7 chairs around small tables
  
• Paper to record Max and Min Specs
  

• Everyone involved in the activity or program can participate
  
• Everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute
  

• Start individually then small groups of 4 to 7
  
• Whole group for sharing
  

• Generate the list of all must-do and must-not-do activities (Max Specs), at first alone for one minute then consolidate and expand in the small group for five minutes. Make list as complete as possible in a short time. 6 min.
  
• Each small group tests each spec on its Max Spec list against the purpose statement. If the spec can be violated and the purpose still achieved, the spec is dropped from the list. 15 min.
  
• Do a second round if needed. 15 min.
  
• Compare across small groups and consolidate to the shortest list. 15 min.