15% Solution

This is a deceptively simple solution generation activity with group accountability built into it.

In practice 

The structure allows for us to think alone, together, for the benefit of the whole group. What's interesting is that once you've taken action on your solution, there is already an audience - ideally, a recipient of the value created - who is aware of the intent behind it. A bit of ownership over the solution has already been established, since they played a role in its conception. That kicks off a positive reinforcement loop, and everyone does it for everyone else's efforts, too.

It is all so powerful. It's the responsibility of a facilitator to lay groundwork in the workshop for the work to continue, and 15% Solutions allows for that to happen naturally.

Workshop design notes

Coming up with a 15% solution is making a commitment to yourself and your group. I think each solution is best captured as a written document, one that’s made accessible to everyone after the workshop if they’re part of the same project or team.

There should also be a consensus on how to build a feedback loop for someone/everyone to check whether things are working or not. If participants are part of the same project or team, the loop can be designed to be conducted at the collective level. If not, consider a solo activity to write down “how will I know if I’ve succeeded?” as a promise to yourself.

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This entry is part of an ongoing series of Field notes from my Liberating Structures practice.

• LS under development
  • Aug 16, 2020 Tiny monsters
  • Aug 13, 2020 Narrative reauthoring
  • Aug 12, 2020 Spiral journal
  • Aug 9, 2020 Mad Tea Party
• Microstructures
  • Feb 24, 2021 Helping Heuristics
  • Oct 4, 2020 Nine Whys
  • Oct 4, 2020 Appreciative interviews
  • Sep 24, 2020 Ecocycle planning
  • Sep 20, 2020 Celebrity interview
  • Aug 22, 2020 25/10 Crowdsourcing
  • Aug 22, 2020 Open space technology
  • Aug 22, 2020 Wise crowds
  • Aug 14, 2020 Wicked questions
  • Aug 13, 2020 Heard, seen, respected
  • Aug 13, 2020 15% Solution
  • Aug 13, 2020 Triz
  • Aug 13, 2020 Min specs
  • Aug 12, 2020 User experience fishbowl
  • Aug 11, 2020 Conversation cafe
  • Aug 11, 2020 Troika Consulting
  • Aug 11, 2020 Impromptu networking
  • Aug 10, 2020 1-2-4-All