I am always on the lookout for interesting and effective ways to bring groups of people together and help them find alignment. The 1-2-4-All method is a new technique that I first heard about from an educator and coach, let’s call her Ms. Clarity.
She introduced me to the phrase “liberating structures,” which has such a wonderful ring of freedom to it. As I read more about this concept, I learned that it is frequently used to break down hierarchical barriers and generate, iterate, and sift through ideas in groups of any size.
The 1–2–4-All tool kit is a structured, 12-minute, facilitated brainstorming technique designed to maximize engagement, encourage quiet team members to contribute, and foster rapid consensus. I look forward to trying it out in the real world soon.
From what I read, here is how to make it work.
- 1 (Individual): Start with 1 minute of silent, independent reflection. Every person writes down their own ideas or answers to a central, open-ended question.
- 2 (Pairs): Participants pair up for 2 minutes to discuss their ideas, allowing them to compare notes and build on each other’s thoughts.
- 4 (Foursomes): Pairs combine into groups of four for 4 minutes to share, further refine, and distil the most compelling ideas from their discussions.
- All (Whole Group): The entire group reconvenes for 5 minutes. Each group of four shares one key, standout idea, which is captured for all to see, allowing patterns and consensus to emerge.
As I reflect on the possibilities this tool offers any leader of people, the versatility of application makes it appealing. I could use it for a quick brainstorm, to get feedback on how a presentation was received, to ask people to priorities top actions we need to focus on, and so much more. The list of things that it could bring people together on seems endless. The bonus is that every voice is given the space to be heard, and it can all be done in 12 minutes.
Much like in a coaching conversation, the key to its successful application is to start off with a clear, open-ended question. For example, “What is the one big opportunity YOU feel we have as a team, that should be focused on?” or “If there was one thing YOU feel we should stop doing as a team, what would it be?”
The 1-2-4-All approach creates a safe space in a team (or group) setting to explore what everyone in the team is feeling and thinking and then bring it to a consensus within a short time. I am grateful for the nudge from Ms. Clarity, who urged me to spend some time reading up on this wonderful facilitation technique.
As I explored the content available on the internet, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Liberating Structures is a collection of 33 ‘microstructures’ gathered, refined, or invented by Keith McCandless, Henri Lipmanowicz, and a group of pioneers. They are open source, easy to understand, and available to anyone interested in catalysing change. If you want to use them, just go to liberatingstructures.com, get the book or download the app for Android or Apple (by Holisticon).
What strikes me most useful is that the tool(s) are easy to remember and easy to use. They invite everyone to participate, and they remind us that sometimes solutions come from unexpected places. Every voice matters, make sure yours is heard and invite all those around you to share and participate.
Liberate yourself and others around you. We are better together. It’s as simple as 1-2-4-All.
Attribution: Keith McCandless and Henri Lipmanowicz
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.
