Page 190 - A CHANGE MAKER'S GUIDE TO NEW HORIZONS 2

THE CHANGE MAKER’S GUIDE TO NEW HORIZONS

different from a business meeting - with its agenda and pace. A reflective space is
where new knowledge can be created. It requires clear minds and an invitation to

be creative. Moving to a place that evokes calm and removes pressures can reap

great dividends. Inviting a diverse group of people who will bring different ways
of seeing and thinking is also a useful ground rule. This can produce results at any

level of the organisation.

• One technique that can work well when seeking to create collective reflection is

to move from individual to small group to bigger group. When asked to reflect on
an event or a challenge we start by asking individuals to write their reflections as

a stream of consciousness otherwise known as free-flow writing. When they have

done this we ask them to share their personal reflections in small groups round

tables of 6-8 people. As a final step for larger groups the tables share their
collective insights across the tables.

• Variations on collective reflections include “Keynote listening” when one member

of a table group turns their backs in order to actively listen to the conversation,

journalling their insights and then sharing these afterwards with the group. Or
“rolling-in rolling-out”, a reflective process where four people sit in the centre of

a larger group reflecting together on a topic. The larger group on the outer circle

must listen carefully and may not speak. At any time a member of the outer circle

may take the place of someone in the inner circle to continue the conversation.
This productive process makes it very clear to everyone when they are in

observation and listening mode and when they are in the speaking circle.

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