This presentation was used as part of a workshop I ran for an International Association of Facilitators, India Learning Event in Mumbai on 19th June 2016. It introduces the ICA ToP Focused Conversation method: ORID and gives a practical example using a video

1. The Art of Focused Conversation:
ORID
IAF India Learning Event
Mumbai Sunday 19th June 2016
Facilitator:
Stephen Berkeley, Manager Organisation Development,
Global Hospital & Research Centre, Mt Abu, Rajasthan

2. OBJECTIVES
To introduce the background and theory
behind Focused Conversation - ORID
To introduce four levels of ORID
To demonstrate ORID by leading a focused
conversation
To share examples of the application of
ORID and its limitations
For participants to consider their own
applications of ORID

5. Objective
Focused Conversation
When we process information and
think clearly, we move through four
different modes, sometimes very
quickly.
These modes of thinking can be
labeled:
• Objective
• Reflective
• Interpretive
• Decisional
ORID
Reflective
Interpretive
Decisional
Source: Cynthia Lapp http://ispimi.org/images/meeting/082212/focused_conversation_univ_minnesota.pdf

6. ORID is based on the way the brain
ORID simply provides a structure for
asking questions in that sequence
Takes in information
Makes sense of it
And moves to action
Experience
Emotion
Thought
Action
O
R
I
D
Perception
Response
Judgment
Decision

7. Objective
Focused Conversation
This is the sensory mode of
thinking, where we process
“raw” data:
• What we perceive through our
body and senses
• Facts and data about the
situation
• External/Observable
information
Objective Mode
Reflective
Interpretive
Decisional
Source: Cynthia Lapp http://ispimi.org/images/meeting/082212/focused_conversation_univ_minnesota.pdf

8. Objective
Focused Conversation
This is our immediate response to
these data, how we are processing
the Objective level internally:
• How we respond to these “raw”
data
• What experiences we can relate to
these data
• Internal response to external data
• Images, feelings, memories,
associations
Reflective Mode
Reflective
Interpretive
Decisional
Source: Cynthia Lapp http://ispimi.org/images/meeting/082212/focused_conversation_univ_minnesota.pdf

9. Objective
Focused Conversation
This mode is about processing
these responses, experiences
and associations:
• So what does this mean?
• What values are activated?
• What is the significance? What
are the implications?
• What are our insights?
Interpretive Mode
Reflective
Interpretive
Decisional
Source: Cynthia Lapp http://ispimi.org/images/meeting/082212/focused_conversation_univ_minnesota.pdf

10. Objective
Focused Conversation
This mode is about making
decisions or choosing actions
based on the information, its
meaning and significance:
• What are the next steps?
• What actions are appropriate?
• What has been learned? What
is my commitment?
Decisional Mode
Reflective
Interpretive
Decisional
Source: Cynthia Lapp http://ispimi.org/images/meeting/082212/focused_conversation_univ_minnesota.pdf

11. Strategic Questions
Source: “Learning from Experience Through Executive Coaching” © Maltbia, Ghosh and Marsick (2010)

12. Source: http://www.stakeholder.ca/facilitators-do-it-in-groups

13. Objective •Senses
Reflective
•Heart
Interpretive
•Head
Decisional
•Action
Source: Martin Gilbraith http://bit.ly/29bd8xH

14. Objective •What
Reflective
•Gut
Interpretive
•So What
Decisional
•Now What
Source: http://www.stakeholder.ca/facilitators-do-it-in-groups

15. ORID

16. Rational & Experiential Aims
Rational Aim
• What does the group
need to know,
understand or decide
Experiential Aim
• What experience do
we want our
participants to have
Rational Aim
• To learn something
about each other,
facilitation and the
role of the facilitator
Experiential Aim
• To experience ORID
in the ToP Focused
Conversation method
Theory This Conversation
Source: Martin Gilbraith http://bit.ly/29bd8xH

17. Video
“What do Facilitators Do”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDLGjKBHSXg

18. OBJECTIVElevelquestions
1.What words and phrases do
you recall from the clip?
2.What images do you
remember?
3.What people or characters?
4.What else about the clip did
you notice, such as sound,
colour, design?
Source: https://martingilbraith.com/2013/12/18/three-dimensions-of-the-facilitator-role-a-focused-conversation/

19. 1.What particularly surprised or
intrigued you in the clip?
2.Which ideas were most familiar to
you?
3.What reminded you of your own
experience of meetings that you
have designed and facilitated, or
participated in?
4.What other metaphors for
facilitation come to mind for you?
REFLECTIVElevelquestions
Source: https://martingilbraith.com/2013/12/18/three-dimensions-of-the-facilitator-role-a-focused-conversation/

20. 1.How well do these three
metaphors capture the role of the
facilitator in your experience?
What would you add?
2.Which of these three dimensions
is best understood and
appreciated in your own
situations?
3.What aspects of the facilitator role
would you most like to learn and
practice more? How?
INTERPRETIVElevelquestions
Source: https://martingilbraith.com/2013/12/18/three-dimensions-of-the-facilitator-role-a-focused-conversation/

21. 1.What is one insight from
this clip or conversation
that will you take away and
apply in your own work and
how?
2.Who would you like to
share this clip with?
DECISIONALlevelquestions
Source: https://martingilbraith.com/2013/12/18/three-dimensions-of-the-facilitator-role-a-focused-conversation/

22. Examples of Applications
Conversations for
interpreting information
Conversations for evaluating
and reviewing
Conversations for coaching
& mentoring
Conversations for planning

23. Strengths of ORID
1. Allows the group to move easily and quickly to a
deeper discussion level.
2. May be used to effectively discuss difficult or tense
issues.
3. Allows for careful progression for collective
consciousness to take place.
4. Enables group to discuss important topics in a non-
confrontational style.
5. Sets a clear and strategic context for a topic.
Source: https://asiafoundation.org/resources/pdfs/11TechnologyofParticipationTOP.pdf

24. Limitations of ORID
1. It may not yield a consensus.
2. Effective only for specific and commonly shared topics.
3. Effective only for short periods of time - difficult to go
beyond 45 minutes without losing the group's attention.
4. Verbal method - no visuals or kinesthetic to engage
participants.
5. Requires all participants to carefully pay attention and
track all comments
Source: https://asiafoundation.org/resources/pdfs/11TechnologyofParticipationTOP.pdf

25. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
1. Barbara MacKay, Yvonne Yam & Lillian Wang for sowing
the ORID seed at “Meetings that Rock” #IAFASIA15
preconference workshop
2. Kimberly Bain for suggesting “The Art of Focused
Conversations” by ICA Canada
3. Martin Gilbraith for expanding my mind re possibilities of
ORID & the ORID questions for the video
4. Beatrice Briggs, International Institute for Facilitation &
Change (IIFAC) for “What do Facilitators Do” Video
www.iiafc.org
5. Twitter, where I connected with Martin and it was
through him I was connected to Beatrices work