Facilitated prcesses can be assisted by having explicit guidelines, or principles, about how people are expected to act with one another.

The following list has emerged in our work and is used in the Futures Brought to Life book, page 31.

Principles

• Play - Learn - Enjoy
• Whatever happens is okay
• Whatever is said is okay
• What is said, stay in the room
• Respect
• Diversity
• Be inclusive
• Curiosity
• Welcome Surprises
• Listen before Speaking
• No Persuasion Needed
• Yes, And…
• Trust - Focus
• Rule of two feet

Whenever we use such a list, we explain some of the thinking behind each point. We also like to ask what is missing. In any specific context, there are certain unspoken rules that might need to be addresses, or assumptions that need to be made clear. Sometimes it is desirable to be more careful about pronouns. The list of principles has been refined by these additions.

Some reflections on these principles:

• Play - Learn - Enjoy

we are not here to work, the process should be plaful, we should all learn things, we show enjoy the process of shared creation and reflection.

• Whatever happens is okay

We, and you, should not expect that certain results will arise. Perhaps the most important thing will be a conversation, or an insight. Perhaps the important result is not what you produce, but the fact that you can produce such creative ideas.

• Whatever is said is okay

Please do not self-censor. Say what you think. Once you have said it out loud, perhaps you can explain why you think it is no longer such a good idea. Perhaps someone else will expand upon it and it will become a great idea.

• What is said, stay in the room

Respect personal stories.

• Respect

Show respect for one another. respectful disagreement is different from aggressive denial of opinions or ideas.

• Diversity

The more diversity we find in ideas, concepts and directions, the more rich the emrging ideas will be.

• Be inclusive

Where two ideas might seem to conflict, we often find that the merging of the two, or imagining where both could fit in, perhaps independently of one another, can be so fruitful.

• Curiosity

Allow yourself to be curious. Wonder what if.

• Welcome Surprises

We do this for the surprises. The unexpected, nonlinear combinatoric explosion of possibilities.

• Listen before Speaking

Let other people finish their sentences. You might know what they are going to say, but you also might not, and they might still be working it out as they say it. Given them, and yourself, time.

• No Persuasion Needed

No one knws what the future might bring, so there is no right or wrong. And therefor no need to try and convince other people that you are right.

• Yes, And…

Instead of “no, but..” try to add to what has been said or suggested. “Draw a line and follow it.” see where the ideas go, as you add to them.

• Trust - Focus

Trust us that we have a plan, and follow our instructions and suggestions. We welcome feedback at the end, but fo now we want you to be in the process and not trying to second guess what we are doing as a dynamic process. While you are trusting us, try to sty focussed: put your social media away, let yourself be focussed on teh group and your energies here in the room. There is time later to respond to pings from outside.

• Rule of two feet

If things are too hard, or uncomfortable, or you just need some fresh air; go for a walk. To another group, or outside, or to the facilitators, or…