Introductory Liberating Structures (LS) workshop presented by
Lucia Dura, Ph.D.
UTEP, Department of English, Rhetoric and Writing Studies
Eva Moya, Ph.D.
UTEP Department of Social Work
Lauren Perez, M.A.
UTEP Positive Deviance (PD) Ambassador
In partnership with
CAPSHR
College of Health Sciences
Center for Civic Engagement
Social Justice Initiative
Department of English
Liberate your Structure: Unleash Creativity and Participation in Meetings
Structures are Everywhere
• Do we notice them?
• Are we conscious of how they impact performance and results?
Over-Controlled Presentation/Lecture
• Too uniform
• Engaging only one person or a select few in shaping
direction
• Flow in one direction
?
Under-Controlled Open Discussion
• Unstable relationships
• Anyone can jump in
• Flow too random to shape direction
Distributed (tight & loose)
Liberating Structures
• Distributed control, flow from any point, any direction
• As the action unfolds, direction is shaped by participants
themselves out of local interaction
Appreciative Interviews
Creating Momentum by Building on and Designing
with “What Works”
Find a partner you do not know well. Tell a story about a time when you
worked on challenge with others in a meeting/group setting and you are
proud of what you accomplished. What is the story and what made the success
possible?
Tips on InterviewingStories lets us “see” through others’ eyes
• Ask about the context – When
– Where
– Who
– How
• DO NOT tell your own story at the same time
• Collect details of the journey:– Status quo, barriers, action, surprises,
discoveries
• Find a moment that sums up the meaning
First Configuration• Pairs
• 4 minutes for each story
• Total time 8 minutes
• Bell after 4 and after 8 minutes
Second Configuration
• Groups of 4 (2 pairs together)
• Take turns telling your partner’s story
• 3 minutes per story
• Total Time 12 Minutes (Bell after 12 Minutes)
• Listen and look for patterns
• What conditions repeat?
Third Configuration
• All together
• Collect success patterns
1. Space
– Open
– Sitting
2. Participation
– Everybody at once and at the same time + equal time for all
3. Configurations
– Pairs
– Quads
– Whole Group
4. Time allocation
– 5 minutes per person
– 3 minutes per person
5. Structuring invitation
– Appreciative question
– Asking for a story
– Look for patterns
Structure of Appreciative Interviews
Why and When? Appreciative Interviews
• Build positive energy & momentum
• Solve problems based on what works
• Identify conditions for success
• Spark peer to peer learning
• Reveal collective wisdom
Why and When? 1-2-4-All
• Engage everybody at the same time
• Expand diversity of inputs
• Enrich quality before sharing
• Separate and protect generation of ideas from whole group discussion
25 Gets You 10
Rapidly Generate a Group’s Most Powerful Actionable
Ideas
Structuring Invitation: If you were ten times bolder, what big idea would you
recommend to your organization?
Write your big idea on one side of an index card.
Sequence of Steps• Everyone stands• Mill around and pass cards from
person to person• When the bell rings, stop and
score the card between 1 and 5 points (5 = heck yes! 1= meh). Write the number on the back of the card
• When bell rings, mill around and pass cards from person to person again
• Five rounds• At the end of cycle five, add up the
scores on the back of the last card you are holding
All Together
• Identify top 10 scores
• What caught your attention about 25 Gets You 10?
Why and When? 25 Gets You 10
• Create an environment in which good ideas can bubble up
• Encourage novice innovators to think boldly and come up with practical steps
• Obtain results that are more likely to endure because they were generated transparently from within
25 Gets You 10
Rapidly Generate a Group’s Most Powerful Actionable
Ideas
Structuring Invitation: If you were ten times bolder, what big idea would you
recommend to your organization?
Write your big idea on one side of an index card.
Impromptu Networking DebriefRapid Networking and Idea
Exchange
Pairs (2 minutes each round)
Answer:• What did you see, hear, do today that
inspired you?• Do you see yourself making any
changes in your organization?
Why and When? Impromptu Networking
• Generate energy
• Invite refinement or deepening of ideas
• Opportunity to learn from others
• Can be used to open, close or take temperature
• Debrief provides opportunity for reflection
Next Steps
• Save the date for follow-up Liberating Structures Workshop
• Wednesday, November 16th
• Focus on “Purpose”
• Why do you do what you do?
• How do you get from purpose to practice?
• Asking for help
For more information on Liberating Structures:
www.liberatingstructures.org
For a local resource contact:
Call to Community
• We invite you to add to the menu!!
Do you or your agency employ a unique approach to your work that may be useful to others?
We would love for you to add to the Food for Changed Thought Menu!
Email Jennifer (Jenna) Lujan at [email protected] Eva Moya [email protected]