The Art of Focused Conversation:ORID

IAF India Learning EventMumbai Sunday 19th June 2016

Facilitator:Stephen Berkeley, Manager Organisation Development,Global Hospital & Research Centre, Mt Abu, Rajasthan

OBJECTIVES

To introduce the background and theory behind Focused Conversation - ORID

To introduce four levels of ORID

To demonstrate ORID by leading a focused conversation

To share examples of the application of ORID and its limitations

For participants to consider their own applications of ORID

Objective

Focused Conversation

When we process information and think clearly, we move through four different modes, sometimes very quickly.

These modes of thinking can be labeled:

• Objective• Reflective• Interpretive• Decisional

ORID

Reflective

Interpretive

Decisional

Source: Cynthia Lapp http://ispimi.org/images/meeting/082212/focused_conversation_univ_minnesota.pdf

ORID is based on the way the brain

ORID simply provides a structure for asking questions in that sequence

Takes in information

Makes sense of it

And moves to action

Experience

Emotion

Thought

Action

O

R

I

D

Perception

Response

Judgment

Decision

Objective

Focused Conversation

This is the sensory mode of thinking, where we process “raw” data:

• What we perceive through our body and senses

• Facts and data about the situation

• External/Observable information

Objective Mode

Reflective

Interpretive

Decisional

Source: Cynthia Lapp http://ispimi.org/images/meeting/082212/focused_conversation_univ_minnesota.pdf

Objective

Focused Conversation

This is our immediate response to these data, how we are processing the Objective level internally:

• How we respond to these “raw” data

• What experiences we can relate to these data

• Internal response to external data• Images, feelings, memories,

associations

Reflective Mode

Reflective

Interpretive

Decisional

Source: Cynthia Lapp http://ispimi.org/images/meeting/082212/focused_conversation_univ_minnesota.pdf

Objective

Focused Conversation

This mode is about processing these responses, experiences and associations:

• So what does this mean?• What values are activated?• What is the significance? What

are the implications?• What are our insights?

Interpretive Mode

Reflective

Interpretive

Decisional

Source: Cynthia Lapp http://ispimi.org/images/meeting/082212/focused_conversation_univ_minnesota.pdf

Objective

Focused Conversation

This mode is about making decisions or choosing actions based on the information, its meaning and significance:

• What are the next steps?• What actions are appropriate?• What has been learned? What

is my commitment?

Decisional Mode

Reflective

Interpretive

Decisional

Source: Cynthia Lapp http://ispimi.org/images/meeting/082212/focused_conversation_univ_minnesota.pdf

Strategic Questions

Source: “Learning from Experience Through Executive Coaching” © Maltbia, Ghosh and Marsick (2010)

Source: http://www.stakeholder.ca/facilitators-do-it-in-groups

Objective •Senses

Reflective•Heart

Interpretive•Head

Decisional•Action

Source: Martin Gilbraith http://bit.ly/29bd8xH

Objective •What

Reflective•Gut

Interpretive•So What

Decisional•Now What

Source: http://www.stakeholder.ca/facilitators-do-it-in-groups

ORID

Rational & Experiential Aims

Rational Aim• What does the group

need to know, understand or decide

Experiential Aim• What experience do

we want our participants to have

Rational Aim• To learn something

about each other, facilitation and the role of the facilitator

Experiential Aim• To experience ORID

in the ToP Focused Conversation method

Theory This Conversation

Source: Martin Gilbraith http://bit.ly/29bd8xH

Video“What do Facilitators Do”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDLGjKBHSXg

OBJECTIVE level

questions

1.What words and phrases do you recall from the clip?

2.What images do you remember?

3.What people or characters?4.What else about the clip did

you notice, such as sound, colour, design?

Source: https://martingilbraith.com/2013/12/18/three-dimensions-of-the-facilitator-role-a-focused-conversation/

1.What particularly surprised or intrigued you in the clip?

2.Which ideas were most familiar to you?

3.What reminded you of your own experience of meetings that you have designed and facilitated, or participated in?

4.What other metaphors for facilitation come to mind for you?

REFLECTIVE

leve

l que

stion

s

Source: https://martingilbraith.com/2013/12/18/three-dimensions-of-the-facilitator-role-a-focused-conversation/

1.How well do these three metaphors capture the role of the facilitator in your experience? What would you add?

2.Which of these three dimensions is best understood and appreciated in your own situations?

3.What aspects of the facilitator role would you most like to learn and practice more? How?

INTERP

RETIVE

leve

l que

stion

s

Source: https://martingilbraith.com/2013/12/18/three-dimensions-of-the-facilitator-role-a-focused-conversation/

1.What is one insight from this clip or conversation that will you take away and apply in your own work and how?

2.Who would you like to share this clip with?

DECISIONAL

leve

l que

stion

s

Source: https://martingilbraith.com/2013/12/18/three-dimensions-of-the-facilitator-role-a-focused-conversation/

Examples of Applications

Conversations for interpreting information

Conversations for evaluating and reviewing

Conversations for coaching & mentoring

Conversations for planning

Strengths of ORID1. Allows the group to move easily and quickly to a

deeper discussion level. 2. May be used to effectively discuss difficult or tense

issues. 3. Allows for careful progression for collective

consciousness to take place. 4. Enables group to discuss important topics in a non-

confrontational style. 5. Sets a clear and strategic context for a topic.

Source: https://asiafoundation.org/resources/pdfs/11TechnologyofParticipationTOP.pdf

Limitations of ORID1. It may not yield a consensus. 2. Effective only for specific and commonly shared topics. 3. Effective only for short periods of time - difficult to go

beyond 45 minutes without losing the group's attention. 4. Verbal method - no visuals or kinesthetic to engage

participants. 5. Requires all participants to carefully pay attention and

track all comments

Source: https://asiafoundation.org/resources/pdfs/11TechnologyofParticipationTOP.pdf

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS1. Barbara MacKay, Yvonne Yam & Lillian Wang for sowing

the ORID seed at “Meetings that Rock” #IAFASIA15 preconference workshop

2. Kimberly Bain for suggesting “The Art of Focused Conversations” by ICA Canada

3. Martin Gilbraith for expanding my mind re possibilities of ORID & the ORID questions for the video

4. Beatrice Briggs, International Institute for Facilitation & Change (IIFAC) for “What do Facilitators Do” Video www.iiafc.org

5. Twitter, where I connected with Martin and it was through him I was connected to Beatrices work