The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures: Simple Rules to Unleash a Culture of Innovation

The groundbreaking 2014 book from Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless lit the match that spread Liberating Structures around the world.

Smart leaders know that they would greatly increase productivity and innovation if only they could get everyone fully engaged. So do professors, facilitators and all changemakers. The challenge is how. Liberating Structures are novel, practical and no-nonsense methods to help you accomplish this goal with groups of any size.

  • Part One: The Hidden Structure of Engagement grounds you with the conceptual framework and vocabulary of Liberating Structures.

  • Part Two: Getting Started and Beyond offers guidelines for experimenting in a wide range of applications.

  • Part Three: Stories from the Field illustrates the endless possibilities Liberating Structures offer with stories from around the world.

  • Part Four: The Field Guide for Including, Engaging, and Unleashing Everyone describes each of the 33 Liberating Structures.

Date: Feb 19 2014 ISBN/EAN13: 0615893376 / 9780615893372

Authors Henri and Keith on Liberating Structures.

Buy the Original Book

Praise for the The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures

“This book is so needed and so useful. The authors understand that the world is changed through small, elegant shifts in the protocols of how we meet, plan, conference, and relate to each other. The genius of this book is how it puts in the hands of every leader and every citizen the facilitative power that was once reserved for the trained expert. This will be a required text for all programs on leadership and change.”
— Peter Block – Bestselling author of Flawless Consulting, Stewardship, and Community: The Structure of Belonging
“A treasure trove of simple, practical methods to stimulate critical conversations and liberate the full potential of any group, from the frontline to the C-suite. ”
— Cheryl M Scott – Global Programs Senior Advisor, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Translations of The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures

There are many people who have volunteered to translate LS into other languages. It is important to note that there was never an official coordination of translations. Most of the translations do not (yet) include the updated descriptions from the Liberating Structures Field Guide book published in 2026.

We have done our best to maintain an updated list here, but it is not exhaustive. You may find additional translation efforts & resources.

  • DescriptionTitle: 解放结构的惊人力量 (The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures)

    • Translator: Julie Chu (Zhu Xiaofei)

    • Publisher: China Radio and Television Press (2023)

    • ISBN-13: 978-7-5043-8937-4

    • Annotation: The formal Simplified Chinese publication. Julie Chu is a leading practitioner in China, and this book serves as the primary gateway for LS in corporate and social sectors across the mainland. text goes here

    • Title: 解放結構的驚人力量

    • Translators: Connie Tsai and Eric Tseng

    • Annotation: A Traditional Chinese translation serving Taiwan, Hong Kong, and global Traditional Chinese readers. It is highly regarded for its precision in translating complexity-science concepts.Description text goes here

    • Title: Liberating Structures: De verrassende kracht van bevrijdende structuren

    • Publisher: Boom (2021)

    • ISBN-13: 978-9089840189

    Annotation: A core text for the active Dutch community. It has seen high adoption in Dutch healthcare, education, and Agile circles.

    • Title: Le pouvoir surprenant des Liberating Structures

    • Publisher: Liberating Structures Press (Community Edition)

    • ISBN-13: 978-1517594916

    Annotation: The foundational text for Francophone practitioners.

    • Title: Mit Liberating Structures gemeinsam mehr erreichen: 33 Strukturen für bessere Zusammenarbeit

    • Translators: Birgit Nieschalk, Anja Kässner, and Sharif Bitar

    • Publisher: tredition (2023)

    • ISBN-13: 978-3-384-01227-2

    Annotation: A community-led translation, artfully produced and updated for modern "New Work" and collaborative contexts.

    • Title: O Surpreendente poder das Estruturas Libertadoras

    • Translator: João Paulo Pimentel

    • Publisher: Editora Voo (2025)

    • ISBN-13: 978-65-89686-84-2

    Annotation: The newest major trade translation, introducing the methodology to the Portuguese-speaking world with high production standards.

About the Authors

Henri Lipmanowicz

Henri retired from Merck in 1998 after a 30-year career during which he progressed from Managing Director in Finland to President of the Intercontinental Region and Japan (The world minus the US and Western Europe) and a member of Merck Management Committee. In 2000 Henri co-founded the Plexus Institute and served as Chairman of the Board until 2010.

Born in Carcassonne, France, Henri holds a MS degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from Columbia University and a MS degree in Chemical Engineering from France. His career gave him the opportunity to live in seven countries and made him a perpetual world traveler. He resides in the US with his Finnish wife; their joy in their seven grandchildren is beyond their wildest expectations. While in France he drives around in a 1961 2CV Citroen.

Henri

Photo credit: unknown

Keith McCandless

It was kismet that I met Henri Lipmanowicz while serving on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Plexus Institute. We shared a hunch that complexity science had practical applications and could be accessible to everyone.  My keen interest in transformational learning and planning methods clicked with Henri’s business acumen as we fielded early prototypes. Starting in 2002, Henri and I worked as partners to develop Liberating Structures. 

Over twelve years, our hunch transmogrified into a powerful repertoire for people making change.  Gleefully, we cut across academic disciplines, tapped spiritual practices, roamed the planet, and deepened scientific insights along the way.  

What delights me most is the range of challenges, big and small, where liberating every voice to shape next steps can have a positive influence. Professional, functional, and interpersonal boundaries seem to dissolve when using Liberating Structures. I love creating the conditions for social inventiveness to flourish and to help people to take on their most entangled challenges with newfound confidence.  

From 1992-2000, I led executive learning initiatives for the Health Forum (HF) in San Francisco, where he was responsible for working with field-based learning collaboratives focused on market strategy, systems thinking, quality management, creativity, rapid prototyping, and transformational leadership.

Prior to the Health Forum, I founded and served as the executive director of the Foundation for Health Care Quality in Seattle. The foundation brought together business, academic, & health leaders in a unique partnership to improve quality and value in healthcare.

Born in Cincinnati Ohio, I hold a Masters in Management of Human Services from Brandeis University in Boston and a BA from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. I live in Seattle with my wife Annie and Deacon the whippet with talent to amuse.

Keith

Photo credit: Lisanne Lentink

Henri, Keith, and Arvind Singhal

Keith and Henri