{Liberating Structure in Development} Feedback on this LS
Positive Gossip (v1.4)
Start Turning Around a Destructive Pattern of Negative Gossip
What is made possible? Creating a climate of appreciative personal feedback can dramatically boost performance for individuals and groups. It is possible to begin turning a vicious self-reinforcing cycle of negative gossip – that stifles risk-taking and innovation – into a virtuous self-reinforcing cycle of positive feedback. Positive Gossip is an antidote a strongly felt discontent and indifference that spreads informally from person to person (a form of acute proliferative dysphoria). A generalized malaise in which “things will not get better, only worse.” A robust pattern of positive feedback and can eliminate the need for extrinsic rewards and costly incentive programs (e.g., free coffee coupons, stickers, awards ceremonies).
Structural Elements – Min Specs
Structuring Invitation
- You are asked to share something positive or “positive gossip” about the behavior or contributions of other people in your life and working group
How Space Is Arranged & Materials Needed
- Unlimited # people, face-to-face in pairs
How Participation Is Distributed
- Everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute
How Groups Are Configured
- In pairs, then a debrief in a group of four
Sequence of Steps and Time Allocation
1. [1] Find one other person and stand directly across from them, face to face
2. [2] Invite each person to share something positive about any other person in the group based on their recent behavior or contributions (1 minute for each person)
3. [2] Find another person to stand directly across from and share positive gossip about a person that has guided or supported you (personally or professionally)
4. [2] Go find another person to talk with and stand directly across from them… don’t reveal this following question until the new pairs have formed.
5. [2] Share something positive about the behavior or contribution of your partner (the person in front of you). Either person in the pair can go first.
6. [5] Ask, in groups of four,
- What? What happened? What did you notice?
- So What? Does what happened make a difference?
- Now What? Based on what happened and the difference it makes, what action makes sense for you now?
WHY? Purposes
- Start turning around a destructive pattern of negative gossip
- Learn, practice and have fun with a more positive behavior
- Work toward a daily practice or habit that can help eliminate the need for reward and recognition programs
- Start shifting a climate of generalized malaise toward a culture of “things may get better around here”
Tips and Traps
- Keep the direct exchange question # 5 “secret” until the pair has formed
- Maintain the short time frames – 1 minute for each person in the pair
- Make the switch between sharing and listening clear with a bell
- You can do multiple rounds depending on group size and the need to practice this new behavior
- Make it a routine exercise in your group until a new pattern takes hold
Riff and Variations
- Invite gossip about different people who often only are the target of negative gossip
- Encourage exaggeration and embroidering (mimicking the patterns of negative gossip)
- Switch the order of questions 1 and 2
Examples
- Part of the closing of any meeting with 10 or more people present
- Part of a celebration or launch of a new activity
Collateral Materials
Attribution: Adapted from the Stozzi Institute by Keith McCandless with Neil McCarthy and Tracy Rekart
