Facilitator Guide · 2602331 Leader Development · 1/2025

A step-by-step playbook for running class with Liberating Structures

You already teach this course actively, and several activities in your slides are Liberating Structures without the name. This guide assumes no prior knowledge. It explains how these structures work, teaches the six you'll use every week with full steps, then gives each session its own run-of-show, so you can walk in and facilitate cold.

No prior LS knowledge needed 6 core structures, full steps 14 weeks, run-of-show each Steps sourced from liberatingstructures.com
01

Read this first

Three things that frame the whole guide.

You already do this

Your "Why Lead" asked five times over is close to 9 Whys. The homework asking five people what you're good at is Appreciative Interviews. Drawing your developmental network is Social Network Webbing. Your After Event Review is What, So What, Now What. We are not importing something foreign. We are naming what you already do and sharpening it.

The one gap to close

"Discuss in your group" lets the confident two talk while the rest coast. These structures make everyone think in silence first, then rehearse in a small group before the full room, so participation spreads out. That is exactly what your syllabus promises: you get out of it what you put into it.

Highest-value move

Make reflection a structure, every week

Run Spiral Journal for the written reflection and What, So What, Now What for the verbal debrief. Both match your existing Reflection rubric (Clarity, Integration, Depth) and your own After Event Review. It upgrades a component worth 15% of the grade, with no extra content.

02

New to Liberating Structures? Start here

Liberating Structures are 43 simple, repeatable ways to run a discussion so everyone contributes, not just the confident few. You only need about six. Four things make all of them work.

They share one shape

Almost every structure goes: a clear question, then think alone, then a pair or small group, then harvest to the whole room. Once you know that rhythm, the rest are variations. Small groups first is what lets quiet students speak.

The invitation is everything

Each structure opens with one crisp question (the "structuring invitation"). If the question is vague, the room drifts. Write the exact sentence before class. This guide gives you one to say for every session.

Your job is to hold time, not talk

You give the invitation, start a visible timer, and then step back. The structure does the teaching. Saying less is the whole point, and the hardest part.

Why it fits your class

Your course already runs on activities and reflection. These make participation even and give you a repeatable script, so the room, and any TA, can run the same move the same way.

03

The 6 core structures, used every week

Learn these six well. They recur all term, so students get fluent and you stop needing the script. Steps and timings are from liberatingstructures.com.

11-2-4-All

Your default whenever you'd ask "any thoughts?". Gets every voice into a question fast.

  1. Pose one clear question to the room. (1 min)
  2. Alone: everyone writes their own ideas, in silence. (1 min)
  3. Pairs: build on each other's ideas. (2 min)
  4. Foursomes: two pairs join, refine, pick what stood out. (4-5 min)
  5. All: each four shares one idea with the room. (5 min)

In your course: Weeks 3, 6, and any time a slide asks a question.

2Impromptu Networking

A fast, warm opener that builds the peer network the LDP later relies on.

  1. Give one question, e.g. "What do you hope to get from today, and what can you offer others?" (3 min)
  2. Round 1: stand, find a partner, both answer. (4-5 min)
  3. Round 2: new partner, same question. (4-5 min)
  4. Round 3: new partner again. (4-5 min)
  5. Harvest a few insights to the room. (3 min)

In your course: open Week 1, reuse to warm up any session.

3What, So What, Now What

The debrief and verbal-reflection engine. Close activities and whole sessions with it.

  1. What? facts only: alone 1 min, small group shares, capture key facts. (6-12 min)
  2. So What? what does it mean, what patterns. Same alone → group → capture. (6-12 min)
  3. Now What? what will we do next. Same structure again. (6-12 min)

In your course: your After Event Review (Week 14) already is this. Use it weekly.

4Troika Consulting

Peer coaching in trios. This is your WISE Coaching, happening across the whole room.

  1. Groups of three. Frame the challenge each will bring. (5 min)
  2. Client presents their challenge; two consultants ask clarifying questions. (3-4 min)
  3. Client turns away and listens; consultants discuss ideas. (4-5 min)
  4. Client turns back, shares what was useful. Then rotate roles. (2 min)
  5. Repeat until all three have been the client. (x3 rounds)

In your course: introduce Week 4, reuse Week 11 and any LDP work.

515% Solutions

Turns insight into action inside each student's own control. Feeds the LDP Action Plan.

  1. Frame it: "85% may be out of your control. What is the 15% you can do right now, without permission or budget?" (1 min)
  2. Alone: list your own 15% actions. (5 min)
  3. Small groups: share your lists. (6-9 min)
  4. Peers ask clarifying questions and offer advice. (11 min)
  5. A few share an inspiring action with the room. (2 min)

In your course: close most sessions, especially Weeks 4 and 14.

6Spiral Journal

A structured way to run the weekly written Reflection and the LDP as a living document.

  1. Each student folds paper into four quadrants and draws a spiral from the center out. (2 min)
  2. Read four prompts one at a time; they write a response in each quadrant. (8 min)
  3. They circle the ideas that stand out. (2 min)
  4. Share circled insights in pairs or trios. (3 min)
  5. Surface key themes to the room. (3 min)

In your course: the home for the graded weekly Reflection, every week.

04

The 14-week run-of-show

Each card names its signature structure, gives you the exact invitation to say, the steps to run it (from the LS site), and the activity of yours it builds on. Core structures are referenced by name; new-to-the-menu picks are marked.

Week 01Aug 5
Course Overview + Intro to Leader Development
Impromptu NetworkingMin Specs

Say this (Min Specs)

"If this class is going to be a place where everyone can genuinely take risks, what is the minimum set of rules we truly need? What can we cut?"

How to run Min Specs

  1. State the shared purpose: "We want a class where..." (1 min)
  2. Everyone lists every rule they think is required or forbidden (max specs). (1 min)
  3. Small groups combine lists, then delete every rule that isn't truly essential. (15 min)
  4. Plenary: consolidate to the few must-dos and must-nots. (10 min)
Open with Impromptu Networking (core #2). Builds on your Class Norms + Accountability Partner: students co-write the rules instead of receiving them.
Week 02Aug 19
Why: The Heart of Leadership · Passion & Purpose
9 WhysFolding Spectrogram

Say this (9 Whys)

"Tell your partner why you want to lead. They will keep asking 'why is that important?' until you reach the deepest reason. Then give it a short title."

How to run 9 Whys

  1. Alone: jot why the work matters to you. (1 min)
  2. Pairs: partner asks "why?" about nine times; capture a purpose title. (7 min)
  3. Switch roles and repeat. (7 min)
  4. Foursomes share purposes and themes. (5 min)

For the "is passion required?" debate (Folding Spectrogram)

  1. Mark a line: one end "strongly agree", the other "strongly disagree". (2 min)
  2. Students stand where they sit on the statement. (2 min)
  3. A few from each position explain their thinking. (4 min)
  4. "Fold" the line so opposite views pair up and talk. (4 min)
Builds on your Why Lead exercise + the passion debate + Crucible Moments. Now the story is heard and the debate includes everyone, not just the loud voices.
Week 03Aug 26
Who: Developmental Readiness, Mindsets & Leader Identity
1-2-4-AllConversation Café

Say this (Conversation Café)

"In small circles, we'll explore one question with deep listening, not debate. Whoever holds the object speaks; everyone else listens."

How to run Conversation Café

  1. Groups of 5-7, one talking object each. Set the agreements: listen to understand, speak for yourself, no interrupting. (3 min)
  2. Round 1: each shares a first impression, using the object. (5 min)
  3. Round 2: respond to what you heard. (5 min)
  4. Open dialogue, object for turn-taking. (15-20 min)
  5. Final round: each shares a takeaway. (5 min)
Run 1-2-4-All (core #1) on "Am I a leader yet, and why?" first. Builds on your Life Stream share + LDR self-check: it spreads the identity talk across every student.
Week 04Sep 2
How: Leader Development Planning + WISE Coaching
Troika Consulting15% Solutions

Say this (Troika)

"We often face our challenges alone. In threes, you'll get two peer coaches on a real LDP goal. When it's your turn, you'll listen while they think out loud."

How to run it

  1. Introduce Troika Consulting (core #4) here as the form of WISE Coaching, and reuse it all term.
  2. Use the GROW model you already teach as the coaches' question set inside each round.
  3. Close with 15% Solutions (core #5) so each student leaves with a first LDP action.
Builds on your GROW / WISE Coaching. Peer coaching now happens across the whole room, not just a demo up front.
Week 05Sep 9
How: Training & Development + Team Project Intro
What I Need From YouMin Specs

Say this (WINFY)

"Tell each teammate, one at a time, exactly what you need from them for this team to work. They can only answer: yes, no, I'll try, or 'huh?' for unclear."

How to run WINFY

  1. New teams list their top needs of each other (use 1-2-4-All). (10 min)
  2. Each person makes a specific request to a teammate; the listener writes it down and does not respond yet. (15 min)
  3. Each answers only: yes / no / I'll try / huh? (10 min)
Then run Min Specs on "a training program that actually changes people". Builds on your team formation: expectations get clear on day one, cutting free-riding.
Week 06Sep 16
What: Leadership Competencies
25/10 Crowdsourcing

Say this (25/10)

"On one card, write the single competency you think matters most for a leader, and a first step to build it. Then we'll crowd-score them."

How to run 25/10 Crowdsourcing

  1. Everyone writes one bold idea + first step on a card. (5 min)
  2. Pass cards around; each round, score the card you hold 1-5, without seeing prior scores. Do five rounds. (5 min)
  3. Add the five scores on each card. (2 min)
  4. Count down from 25 to surface the top ten. (3-5 min)
Builds on your competency content. The room ranks what matters, which lands harder than a lecture list. (Needs ~15+ students.)
Week 07Oct 2 to 5
What: Strengths-based & Values-based Leadership
Appreciative InterviewsPositive Gossip

Say this (Appreciative Interviews)

"Tell a story about a time you led at your best and were proud of it. What made that success possible?"

How to run it

  1. Pairs interview each other with the story question; note the enabling conditions. (15-20 min)
  2. Foursomes retell partners' stories, listening for patterns. (15 min)
  3. Then Positive Gossip: three quick rounds of new pairs, appreciating a mentor, then a classmate, then your partner (1 min each). (9 min)
Builds on your Reflected Best Self + Affirm Your Strengths after Gallup and VIA. Strengths get spoken and heard, not just self-scored.
Week 08Oct 7
How: Motivation & Persuasion Skills
Improv Prototyping

Say this (Improv Prototyping)

"We'll act out a persuasion attempt and improve it together. Fail safely in here so you're braver out there."

How to run Improv Prototyping

  1. 3-4 players act out a persuasion scene using an influence tactic; the rest observe. (5 min)
  2. Debrief with 1-2-4-All: what worked, what didn't. (3 min)
  3. Groups recombine the parts that worked and replay an improved version. (5 min)
  4. Run additional scenes until a strong version emerges. (3-5 min each)
Builds on your nine influence tactics homework. Rehearsal in the room before the real-world attempt.
Week 09Oct 14
How: Learning from Experiences · Developmental Experiences
Celebrity InterviewWhat So What Now What

Say this (Celebrity Interview)

"Let's have a real conversation with our guest about the experiences that shaped them, the hard ones, not a polished talk."

How to run Celebrity Interview

  1. You host and interview the guest with prepared questions; ask for stories and detail, not speeches. (15-30 min)
  2. Students generate questions in pairs and submit them. (5-10 min)
  3. Ask the best audience questions. (5-10 min)
Close by having students run What, So What, Now What (core #3) on their own hardest experience. Builds on your five experience types + deliberate practice.
Week 10Oct 21
Team Project Presentation
User Experience Fishbowl

Say this (UX Fishbowl)

"Don't present slides. Run one real activity from your session. The rest of the room are the actual participants, and we'll debrief what that felt like."

How to run UX Fishbowl

  1. The presenting team sits in an inner circle and runs / discusses their session; the outer circle observes silently. (10-25 min)
  2. Outer-circle small groups form observations and questions. (4 min)
  3. Q&A between the circles. (10-25 min)
  4. Debrief with What, So What, Now What: "what seems possible now?" (10-15 min)
Builds on your Team Project presentation. Judges and peers experience the session, not just the slides.
Week 11Oct 28
How: Growing through Others · Developmental Relationships
Social Network WebbingTroika Consulting

Say this (Social Network Webbing)

"Let's map the people who help you grow, then find the gaps and a plan to reach the people missing from your circle."

How to run Social Network Webbing

  1. Use 1-2-4-All to name the roles/people who support development. (10 min)
  2. Map yourself in the center, then immediate connections, then the periphery, using colored sticky notes. (12 min)
  3. Draw lines for influence and closeness. (5 min)
  4. Find "closing triangles" (who can introduce you to whom) and commit to one new connection. (15 min)
Builds on your draw-your-network + Board of Advisors 5+2. Reuse Troika (core #4) to demo coaching vs mentoring.
Week 12Nov 4
How: Development, Assessment & Feedback
Heard, Seen, RespectedWise Crowds

Say this (HSR)

"We'll practice listening with no fixing and no judging. Tell your partner about a time you felt unheard. Their only job is to listen."

How to run it

  1. HSR first, for the safety floor: pairs, each tells a story of feeling unheard for 5 min; the listener says only "what happened next?". Then reflect. (~20 min)
  2. Then Wise Crowds: one student sits in the middle, shares an LDP challenge (2 min) and answers clarifying questions. (4 min)
  3. They turn away; the group gives advice, building on each other. (7 min)
  4. They return and share takeaways. Rotate to 1-2 more. (4 min)
Builds on your pair feedback + SBI + Micro-yes. The safety floor first lets feedback go deeper.
Week 13Nov 11
Final Showcase
Shift & Share

Say this (Shift & Share)

"No long presentations. Everyone hosts a station. Half of you present while half circulate, then we swap."

How to run Shift & Share

  1. Set up 5-8 stations around the room. (2 min)
  2. Half host, half rotate in small groups; each host presents 5-7 min, then a short Q&A, then the group moves on. (9-12 min per round)
  3. Swap host and visitor roles; repeat. (x rounds)
  4. Harvest inspiring ideas to the whole room. (2 min)
Builds on your Final Showcase. Everyone stays active and presents; no death by fourteen decks.
Week 14Nov 18
What's Next: Evaluation & Leadership Simulation
Future~PresentWhat So What Now What15% Solutions

Say this (Future~Present)

"Imagine it's 15 to 30 years from now and your leadership has made amazing things happen. The younger ones ask: how did you get there?"

How to run Future~Present

  1. Groups of 4-5 split into "elders" and "youth" around an imagined campfire. (4 min)
  2. Youth interview elders about how the great future came to be; elders improvise together. (10 min)
  3. Harvest what made it possible, then name present-day first steps. (10 min)
Close the term with What, So What, Now What (your AER) and 15% Solutions. Builds on your Evaluation + Theory of Change, turning the LDP into a living document.
05

Five facilitation rules

These structures stand or fall on five things.

Time it tightly

Every structure needs a visible timer. Let it run long and it goes mushy and loses energy. Time's up means time's up.

Keep the invitation sharp

One question, clear and short. A vague prompt sends the small groups off track. Say the exact line printed on each card.

Talk less

Your job is to hold the structure, not to be the best talker in the room. The less you say, the more room students get.

Reuse the core six

Don't swap in a new structure every week. Reuse the core six until they become the room's rhythm. Familiarity is the point.

The first weeks feel clunky

The first 2 to 3 weeks won't feel smooth. That's normal. Once the room catches the rhythm it flows. Don't back off early.

Do
  • Always start in silence: think alone before talking.
  • Close every activity with So What, Now What.
  • Let small groups speak before the full room.
Don't
  • Open with "any thoughts?" to the whole room.
  • Let a big group discuss with no structure.
  • Skip the timer to save content time.