Liberating Structures
Liberating Structures are 33 simple methods that make meetings more engaging, creative, and effective — helping groups move from ideas to action.
What are Liberating Structures?
Liberating Structures are a set of facilitation techniques that help people work together more effectively and efficiently. They provide a structure to conversations and meetings, encouraging everyone to contribute their ideas and perspectives. The structures are designed to be inclusive, allowing all voices in the room to be heard. They can be used in any setting, from small groups to large organizations, enabling teams to make decisions faster, collaborate more effectively, and come up with creative solutions.
Five of the most widely used Liberating Structures:
-
1-2-4-All – start with a moment of reflection alone, then expand ideas in pairs, small groups, and finally the whole room, so every voice is included.
-
Impromptu Networking – quick rounds of conversation that help people connect fast, surface insights, and set the tone for collaboration.
-
Troika Consulting – one person shares a challenge, while two others act as “consultants,” offering new perspectives in just a few minutes.
-
25/10 Crowd Sourcing – participants rapidly pitch bold ideas and score each other’s suggestions, so the strongest solutions rise to the top. This pairs well with a Bias for Action mindset.
-
Appreciative Interviews – partners interview one another about moments of success, uncovering stories and practices worth repeating.
The structures are adaptable to various contexts, such as team meetings, workshops, and conferences, promoting engagement and interactions. They empower people to reflect, share ideas, and connect with others, leading to better problem-solving. Groups using the structures can create an inclusive and collaborative environment, tapping into the collective intelligence.
An immersion workshop in the Netherlands. 6 min.
Arvind Singhal explains. 10 min.
All the Structures HERE!
Go to the Menu of facilitation processes — all free and the simple instructions are provided.
The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures
Get this book if you have anything to do with leadership or facilitation of group processes!
What are they? At the first level, they’re a set of 33 practical, easy-to-use methods for group work. Authors Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless spent years gathering, testing, and describing these processes in real-world settings.
The heart of the book is the “Field Guide” to the 33 processes.
the authors have also identified “Sets of Strings.” These are combinations of the 33 structures that, when used together move a group toward a goal, such as drawing out prototypes or finding everyday solutions.
Go to the Liberating Structures Site!
Here you’ll find all the structures, the principles, resources. It’s all there for you to use in your next meeting.
Podcast: Meisha Rouser interviews Keith McCandless
28 min.
Related Links