When Josephine Dusol, communication manager at the European Theatre Convention, experienced the magic Liberating Structures can bring forward at the reCampaign conference, she knew it could help her transform an upcoming seminar for her artistic network.
As the largest network of public theatres in Europe, the ETC has about 40 European Members from over 20 countries, reflecting the diversity of Europe’s vibrant cultural sector. ETC is organising professional training seminars throughout the year. They offer a chance to develop professional skills, promote peer-to-peer learning and foster international networking between the Member Theatres.
Liberating Structures (LS) are simple social technologies that distribute participation more widely while drawing out greater difference and variation within groups. The repertoire is designed with collaboration in mind -
LS organise groups to mutually shape their work together and make it possible to benefit from diversity and complexity instead of flattening, ignoring and pushing it away - a perfect match for the ETC as promoter of theatre as a vital platform for dialogue, democracy and interaction that responds to, reflects and engages with today’s diverse audiences and changing societies!
We designed the two days their communication experts from theatres across Europe had together, to bring participants’ expertise forward, to build new connections, identify successful practices and to inform future actions - most of it by drawing from participants’ abundant expertise.
[Review the session’s design here]
So what was different with this seminar? What challenges did it address and what did it make possible?
I did a debriefing with Joséphine and ETC’s executive director, Heidi Wiley, to find out.
For them, it was amazing how quickly everyone opened up and exchanged given how heterogenous their group was. At the same time it was a new experience for them to not control the content being shared. Heidi:
“What did they talk about? Sometimes I would have loved to eavesdrop into their conversation!”
A big relief for the organizer
All in all - and after getting comfortable with letting go of control- the participatory setup of the two days were a big relief for the organisers. They were able to participate fully and discovered a new role for them: offering a space to exchange and learn - as opposed to being the curator of content/input.
“Our members are experts in their field - but they aren’t aware of it”
- Joséphine shared one of the pains the seminar addressed. While they need to catch up & deal with digitalisation, they don’t realise that there might be a lot of wisdom available in their network while hierarchies or generational barriers are in their way to reach out. All that was effortlessly overcome by including everyone and unleashing the group’s potential.
“The seminar proved that we have relevant knowledge within our network - it’s valuable to be part of it“
summarized Heidi her key take-away. This helped members to better understand the potential of their group and ultimately work better together.
A collaborative pull or undercurrent
They’ll try out virtual learning experiences involving a wider array of their members and practice Liberating Structures in the framework of the Liberating Structures Lab Berlin and/or an immersive learning workshop I’m offering.
For whom is this?
I recommend organisations keen to tap the full potential of their diverse membership, that exist to enable synergies and to empower its members towards joint action to embrace the peer-to-peer learning approach.
It’s particularly beneficial for associations or internal communities of practice within large organisations to design an event to launch, deepen and expand the collective power of their network.
Contact me to schedule an initial phone consult to explore what’s possible if you design an event to build connection, to enhance the relational coordination among those present.
Together, we’ll stirr up a gravitational pull or maelstrom towards new ways to relate to one another!
