This post is another in our ongoing sequence that focuses on both the toolset AND the process of VisualsSpeak. Last week, we talked about deepening the conversation. This week, we look at what may seem the opposite, but which is really a counterpoint: Narrowing the Conversation.
In this stage, you are asking participants to begin making choices, focusing the conversation and deciding how to move forward. This can happen through conversation, or you can use other sorting methods like sticky notes or index cards.
As the facilitator at this stage, ask questions of the participants that help gather the information from the conversation and think critically about it.
Some suggested questions you can use to help narrow the conversation include:
- What are the steps?
- What is the new story?
- What do we want?
- What is the priority?
- What pieces are missing?
- What are we choosing?
- What is the most important piece?
- What are they key points?
- What can we do to be more effective?
- What is most important?
- Can we live with our choices?
- What are the consequences?
- What factors influence our next steps?
- Where can we find alignment?
- What can help us focus?
