The Art of Focused Conversation: 100 Ways to Access Group Wisdom in the Workplace

Brian Stanfield and colleagues have written a meaningful book that provides a profound, yet simple method to help groups effectively grapple and address any kind of issue.In the book, they say, "For whole systems to operate effectively, information must flow in every direction, up, down, sideways, and diagonally." They go on to describe leaders as askers of questions and state that "the participatory principle requires the art of asking questions."Canada's Institute of Cultural Affairs developed the focused conversation method as part of its Technology of Participation, which leads people through certain phases of reflection, enabling them to process their experiences as a group. A leader/facilitator asks a series of questions to elicit responses that take a group from the "surface of a topic to a topic to its depth implications for their life and work."The focused conversation uses questions at four levels:1. The Objective Level- questions about facts and external reality. 2. The Reflective Level - questions to call forth immediate personal reaction to the data, an internal response, sometimes emotions or feelings, hidden images and associations with the facts, when we encounter an external reality (data/objective) we experience an internal response. 3. The Interpretive Level - questions to draw out meaning, values, significance, and implications. 4. The Decisional Level - questions to elicit resolution, bring the conversation to close, and enable the group to resolve about the future.The first third portion of the book provides an understanding of the concept of focused conversation and is followed by 100 meeting topics with specific examples of questions at the four levels that would be appropriate.The book has helped me to re-think the types and the order of questions that I address to a group.

Bought this book because I had previously attended a course on focused conversation and wanted to know a bit more about the theory behind it and find some more examples of appropriate focus questions. The technique leads a group intuitively through four levels of questions designed to lead to a group decision/action about an issue. (It can be used with individuals as well)Part 1 covers theory and practise and Part 2: 100 Examples covering conversations for :Evaluating and reviewing, Preparation and Planning, Coaching and Mentoring, Interpreting information, Decision-making, Managing and Supervising as well as Personal and celebrative. Each example, outlines the process, provides the focus questions, and includes Hints, Other applications, and points to remember for each example. I have used this method and it works. I would recommend attending an ICA course in participatory methods to practise the technique in a "safe" environment before doing this on your own, especially if you are new to facilitation.The strength of this method is a structured approach that doesn't skip over feelings/emotions in the room. Once these are dealt with, I have found the rest runs smoothly. Some practical considerations; It takes longer to do than a 'normal' meeting so plan ahead, try to get everyone there who has a stake in the conversation or will be asked to implement its outcomes, and make it clear to the group what will happen with the information once they leave the room so that expectations are realistic.Highly Recommended.

if you are seasoned in the profession you might have found some of ICAs principles have emerged in your practice when you try to facilitate dialogue within a group, based in 'focused' conversations.This book explains how the process was originated and how to design focused conversations providing 100 examples from different type of meetings and situations.However, as the book title says this is an Art and like reading from a 'book of recipes' you need to be able to improvise and adapt to the 'taste' of your own circumstances.

Great condition, despite it being used, very pleased.

This book explores the use of a particular conversation format in the workplace, but it is adaptable to any group. If you are interested in community or involved in any groups, no process is more valuable than this one. This book tells the history of the creation of this method, explains its purpose and its parts, tells how to lead such a conversation, and offers 100 sample conversations for specific situations. The purpose of such a conversation is to allow a group of people to process their experience (to experience their experience, so to speak) by asking a series of questions in four different levels: the objective, the reflective, the interpretive and the decisional. This conversation gives form to a natural process which 1) grounds us first in the reality of life, 2) acknowledges the reality of our feelings, 3) looks at meaning based on the first two steps, not on some abstract idea, and 4) moves us into the future from the wisdom just discovered. This is a book of practical inspiration.

I suppose there are many formulas for directed conversation extant. but this book is the most complete "how to do it" that I'm aware of. Not only that, the author and his team describe the existential basis for it. The progressive four steps are easy for a leader to keep in mind, but for the method to be effective the participative audience also needs to be aware of the procedure. How to instruct the audience is outlined. The method encourages everyone to put in their say, no one can "hide" nor does it allow a few to hog the conversation, Wouldn't it be wonderful if politicians would use such a method as this for their so-called Town Meetings!

LOVE THIS BOOK! I attended a Top Facilitation workshop several years ago which introduced the ORID method of discussion. I use it in facilitating all the time & this book provides tons of ideas on what to ask for specific topics. Absolutely wonderful.