Resources
This page is a work in progress – I’m adding more when I find the time!
Intelligent networks
These activities turn meetings into dynamic systems where people relate, create, share and decide with more freedom.
They create highly participative gatherings with lots of space for individual agency and shared wisdom to emerge.
Full Circle
Iterative sense-making
Impromptu Networking
Connect people & ideas
New Shoots
Explore ideas & possibilities
Open Space
The that matter
Swap & score
Create shared priorities
World Cafe
Weave conversations together
1,2,4,All
Shared sense-making
I co-authored an academic paper on using a distributed network model to address complex challenges. You can read a summary of the paper here and the draft version for peer review here.
If you know any more network-based processes like these, let me know!
Deeper conversations
These containers offer ways of holding conversations that go deeper to explore what’s possible.
Unhurried conversations
A relaxed pace where time expands (to add)
Story circle
A deceptively simple way of sharing experiences (to add)
Fishbowl
Listening in on a conversation (to add)
Clearness committee
Finding clarity with clean questions (to add)
Embodied explorations
These activities encourage playfulness, connection and presence in ways that give rise to valuable insights and shifts in perspective.
Applied improvisation
Instant connection, co-operation and co-creation (to add)
Social Presencing Theatre
Embodied systems & relational dynamics (to add)
Sociometry
Using the space to reveal perspectives (to add)
Constellations
Rich conversations about relationships (to add)
Messy art
It surprising what art reveals (to add)
Questions
It’s powerful to work with questions before moving to answers. Sometimes a provocative question reveals all sorts of possibilities (and more questions!).
Framestorming
Explore different ways of framing a challenge
Free Association
Swap words to reframe a challenge
Root cause
Work out where to start
Polarities
Explore both/and thinking
Design questions
Get inspired by focusing on impact
Story
It’s hard to beat a story – it’s the basic unit of human understanding. These simple ways of sharing stories are deeply human, and often deeply affecting.
Story circle
A deceptively simple way of sharing experiences (to add)
Story rounds
Short rounds of stories (no surprise!) (to add)
Story harvesting
Listening in different roles (to add)
Story mapping
Collect stories on a timeline (to add)
Story spine
A tool for structuring stories (to add)
Story swap
Pairs activity with many variations (to add)
Playback theatre
Real stories and creative responses (to add)
Creative thinking
These activities encourage playfulness, lateral thinking, art and embodied presence to generate insights, ideas and innovations.
Analogies
Use metaphors to generate solutions
Flip It
STOP doing what isn’t working
Reversal
Wild & wonderful idea generation
Six hats
Fluid & layered perspective taking (to add)
Guided meditation
Visualising a perfect future (to add)
Dérive
Taking a walk with a question (to add)
Vision boards
Making a collage as a visual dérive (to add)
Rapid prototyping / MVP
Learn by doing rather than talking (to add)
Strategy creation
Vision boards
A quick right-brain process (to add)
From:To
The lightest of all visioning techniques (to add)
Force Field Analysis
Map the driving and restraining forces (to add)
Solutions focus
Amplify what’s working to move forwards (to add)
Asset-based development
Identify and use what you do have (to add)
Blue ocean
A light version of this deep process (to add)
Biomimicry
Systems thinking inspired by nature (to add)
Map & measure impact
Get clarity on your desired impact (to add)
Futurecasting
Crowdsourced trend mapping (to add)
Business model design space
Making sense of the big picture (to add)
Meaningful connection
These activities and games connect people in ways that set the tone for a gathering. Some high energy, others more mindful.
Cat on yer head
A silly game for large groups (to add)
Pass the clap
Connecting with a rhythm
Pointing at things
A low stakes way to loosen up
Mirroring
Embodied leading & following (to add)
RPS competition
Rock paper scissors meets (to add)
Clap, snap…
Wake up body and mind (to add)
Danish clapping
Very high energy – use with caution! (to add)
Reflective practices
These processes support facilitated discussion and debriefs.
Angel & Crown
Two angels in the pub, having a chat about their humans
What? So what? Now what?
The classic learning reflection cycle (to add)
I like, I wish, I wonder
A simple frame for feedback (to add)
Plus, minus, curious
Quick collective feedback (to add)
More, less, start, stop, continue
Speedy feedback tool (to add)
Rock, branch, leaf
What rocked, what’s growing, what to ‘leaf ‘behind (to add)
COIN
Context, observations, impact and next steps (to add)
True for you
Circle game with a light touch (to add)
Creative learning
I’m just starting to list resources for training, coaching and learning experiences – lots more to add.
I’ve put these into categories but some of them I use in lots of different contexts.
Contents
Leading in uncertainty
Circles of presence
Adapt your energy (to add)
Status behaviours
Explore the impact of nonverbals (to add)
Clouds
A deep dive into presence and trust.
Character walk
Physical storytelling with movement (to add)
The chair game
Complexity, adaptability – it’s all there (to add)
Hopepunk
Tell an optimistic story together (to add)
Creative confidence
Infinite Box
Practicing spontaneous discovery
Presents
Playful generosity & acceptance
Expert interview
Finding ease with uncertainty (to add)
Yes, and story
Using other people’s offers (to add)
Conducted story
Group story-telling with a twist (to add)
Word-at-a-time
It’s all in this simple game (to be add)
Sideliner
Incorporate random words into a story (to add)
The Angel & Crown
Positive (and fun) self-reflection (to be add)
VIEW
A psychometric for thinking styles (to be add)
Team development
Personal User Manual
A one page guide on how you prefer to work (to add)
Team canvas
Get aligned on what matters most (to add)
Functions/dysfunctions of a team
A classic model explored in depth (to add)
Team celebration
An awards ceremony with a difference (to add)
Oh Mighty Goddess
Instant co-operation by leading and following (to add)
RPS Tag
A riff on rock paper scissors by Bernie de Koven (to add)
Machines
A classic game from Augusto Boal (to add)
Swarming
Easy games for leading and following (to add)
The Way of Play
Ministry of Silly Mindful Walks
A funny twist on mindful walking (to add)
Crowdsourced Poetry
A line-at-a-time haiku / limerick (to add)
Nature’s Playbook
Oh Mighty Goddess
Spontaneous non-verbal co-operation (to add)
Hey slime mould
A riff on OMG – (to add)
Hope punk
Real stories that bring hope (to add)
