The power of the little liberating structure 1-2-4-all

I love the basic mini structure of 1-2-4-all because it is liberating. It is true, 1-2-4-all is not the ‘big thing’. But it is easy, and the effect can be big.

1-2-4-all: First, I think for myself, then I think with you, then the two of us put our heads together with another pair and finally we share our thoughts with everyone.

Every voice counts

First, 1-2-4-all is the message that we care about you, we want you to actively contribute your thinking, your experience, ideas and discoveries. To advance our thinking and to find novel solutions your voice and a multitude of perspectives count. The rhythm of sharing progressively in small and then bigger groups – 1-2-4-all – brings the knowledge of the room to life.

Activate every brain

Secondly, by starting with an individual reflection and small conversations every brain in the room is activated. Immediately. As there is no shortcut to learning this is key to make a workshop successful. People engage, they dive into their own experiences, consider questions and relate ideas, stories and insights from others to their own context.

Together we are smart

Thirdly, the simple structure creates a common sense, fast. That is the beauty of it. By progressively thinking together ideas are generated, shared and connected. By listening to each other and by building on each other’s proposals, we harvest the wisdom in the room.

Are you curious to learn more about the ideas and the concept behind Liberating Structures? Are you keen to explore more of the mini structures?

Try it out!

Or even better, join the Liberating Structures online immersion workshop, November 3&4 and 24&25, 2022.  

Summer bird tickets for 333 Euro (excl. VAT) till September 3.

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3 responses to “The power of the little liberating structure 1-2-4-all”

  1. Love your illustration of it, Nadia. For me, another important element in 1-2-4-All is the simultaneity of it. Instead of working serially, we are working in parallel. This means that the territory we can cover may be wider, thicker, and livelier. I think you help distinguish that 1-2-4-All is not necessarily a consensus building or decision-taking structure either. It offers both a distributed and integrated way of understanding and tapping people’s knowledge, as you’ve suggested.

    1. Nadia von Holzen

      Dear Fisher, I really like that, a wider, thicker and livelier learning territory for deepening and expanding our understanding. Great! Thanks, Nadia

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