Liberating Structures - 1. 1-2-4-All
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Five Structural Elements – Min Specs
1. Structuring Invitation
Ask a question in response to the presentation of an issue, or about a problem to resolve or a proposal put forward (e.g., What opportunities do YOU see for making progress on this challenge? How would you handle this situation? What ideas or actions do you recommend?)
2. How Space Is Arranged and Materials Needed
Unlimited number of groups
Space for participants to work face-to-face in pairs and foursomes
Chairs and tables optional
Paper for participants to record observations and insights
3. How Participation Is Distributed
Everyone in the group is included (often not the facilitator)
Everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute
4. How Groups Are Configured
Start alone, then in pairs, then foursomes, and finally as a whole group
5. Sequence of Steps and Time Allocation
Silent self-reflection by individuals on a shared challenge, framed as a question (e.g., What opportunities do YOU see for making progress on this challenge? How would you handle this situation? What ideas or actions do you recommend?) 1 min.
Generate ideas in pairs, building on ideas from self-reflection. 2 min.
Share and develop ideas from your pair in foursomes (notice similarities and differences). 4 min.
Ask, “What is one idea that stood out in your conversation?” Each group shares one important idea with all (repeat cycle as needed). 5 min.
Tips and Traps
Firmly facilitate quiet self-reflection before paired conversations
Ask everyone to jot down their ideas during the silent reflection
Use bells for announcing transitions
Stick to precise timing, do another round if needed
In a large group during “All,” limit the number of shared ideas to three or four
In a large group, use a facilitator or harvester to record output not shared
Invite each group to share one insight but not to repeat insights already shared
Separate and protect generation of ideas from the whole group discussion
Defer judgment; make ideas visual; go wild!
When you hit a plateau, jump to another form of expression (e.g., Improv, sketching, stories)
Maintain the rule of one conversation at a time in the whole group
Do a second round if you did not go deep enough!
Riffs and Variations
Graphically record insights as they emerge from groups
Use Post-it notes in Rounds 2 and 3
Link ideas that emerge to Design Storyboards, Improv Prototyping, Ecocycle Planning
Go from groups of 4 to groups of 8 with consensus in mind. Colleague Liz Rykert calls this Octopus!
Examples
Use after a speech or presentation, when it is important to get rich feedback (questions, comments, and ideas), instead of asking the audience, “Any questions?”
A group of managers used two rounds of 1-2-4-All to redesign their less-than-stimulating weekly meeting.
For a spontaneous conversation that starts after the topic of a meeting has been announced
For a group that has been convened to address a problem or an innovation opportunity
For unlocking a discussion that has become dysfunctional or stuck
In place of a leader “telling” people what to think and do (often unintentionally)
For a group that tends to be excessively influenced by its leader
Read Craig Yeatman’s story in Part Three: Stories from the Field about using 1-2-4-All to help manage a merger decision, “Inclusive High-Stakes Decision Making Made Easy.”