Designing with DialogueLeadership and Framing the Right Questions

March 25, 2009Strategic Innovation Lab, Toronto

Greg JudelmanBruce Mau Design

Peter Jones, PhDRedesign Research

MARCH

Designing with DialogueA community of practice

(What’s been happening?)

Books are up.Wiki is up: dialogues.wetpaint.com

Tonight’s Session

Leadership & Framing the Right Questions

What do we mean by the Right Questions?

Questions that make a noticeable difference.Big open questions that invite participation.

When asked, the room changes. People listen not just to each other, but to their own lives.

If Big Enough …

You can live the rest of your life profoundly inside a single Question.

Big Open Questions

Peter BlockThe Answer to How is Yes

“Transformation comes more from pursuing profound questions than seeking practical answers.”

“Declares that we, as a culture, & I, as a human being, are fundamentally about getting things done.”

Evidence in support of this trend …

The Question How

The Question How …

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #98

• How do you do it?• How long will it take?• How much does it cost?• How do we get those people to change?• How do we measure it?• How have others done it successfully?

The Basic How Questions

What is the crossroad at which I find myself at this point in my life / work?

What is my contribution to the problem I am concerned with?

What commitment am I willing to make?

What refusal have I been postponing?

The Yes Questions.

Practice: (20 min) Small groups of 3 or 4

Sit in a circle together

Consider a situation you are facing or care about.

Ask yourselves and respond to the questions in the group, one question at a time.

Exercise

8 positive values that create vision, invite participation & stewardship.

1.Vision & clear purpose2.Effective problem-solving skills3.Participation & empowerment4.Flexible structures supporting mission5.Leadership is key6.Effective personal skills7.Learning organizations8.We live spiritual & human values in orgs

Engagement

“What questions inspire shared leadership?”

Our Question.

List 1 -3 ideas on stickyPost in response to questionClustered & labeled for initial convergence

Anonymous, Inclusive = requires all to contributeCyclical – Can add more questions or roundsGenerative – Creates large number of good ideasAuthentic – People are not swayed to compete

Nominal Group Technique

What are the types of dialogue most appropriate for leadership?

How might we measure dialogue effectiveness?

What are the ways the organization can engage dialogue as a tool for change?

3 Questions

1. Everyone lists 1 or more idea on sticky

2. Ideas posted in response to question

3. Items clustered & labeled for initial convergence

4. Each question / theme is harvested & discussed

Nominal Group Technique

Harvest

Reflections