Method guide · Work with a structured grid
Keeping a speakers list
Use to make the speaking queue visible while keeping urgent safety information and factual corrections outside the ordinary queue.
- People
- 3–40
- Base procedure time
- 10 minutes
- Recording
- Shared record
Purpose: Explore through dialogue; Build working relationships.
English guide
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How this method works
Make speaking requests visible in order and check with each person whether they still want to speak. The facilitator separates ordinary requests from urgent safety information and factual corrections. Record a display name or symbol chosen by the person in the order requests arrive. If prioritising people who have spoken less, explain the criteria for changing order beforehand. Just before inviting someone, check whether they still wish to speak on the current topic. Erase their entry immediately after they speak or decline. Use the list only while the session is in progress; do not retain display names or symbols afterwards. Do not use this where urgent information is put into the ordinary queue or the list is repurposed as a permanent evaluation record.
Phase schedule
Minutes are cumulative from the start of the base plan, not a live timer. Read scaling for any additional time. Phase controls do not advance automatically.
Use the arrow keys, Home or End while these controls have focus. The complete phase schedule remains below, including without JavaScript.
- Separate ordinary and urgent channels0–2 minutes from the start (2 minutes)
Action: Separate. Participation: Small group around the record.
Shared record
- List requests in order2–4 minutes from the start (2 minutes)
Action: List. Participation: Small group around the record.
Shared record
- Explain any criteria for changing order4–6 minutes from the start (2 minutes)
Action: Explain. Participation: Small group around the record.
Shared record
- Check whether people still wish to speak6–8 minutes from the start (2 minutes)
Action: Check. Participation: Small group around the record.
Shared record
- Erase after speaking or declining8–10 minutes from the start (2 minutes)
Action: Erase. Participation: Small group around the record.
Shared record
Facilitation steps
- For 2 minutes, separate ordinary speaking requests from the channels for urgent safety information and factual corrections.
- For 2 minutes, list requests in the order received using display names or symbols chosen by the people concerned.
- For 2 minutes, if people who have spoken less will be prioritised, explain the criteria for changing order before doing so.
- For 2 minutes, check just before inviting each person whether they still wish to speak on this topic, and accept declining.
- For 2 minutes, erase each entry immediately after speaking or declining, then invite the next person.
If something changes
If
The speaking queue reaches 8 or more people.
Then
Do not stop receiving new requests. Ask everyone on the list whether they still want to speak on the same topic and update the list for those who decline.
If
Just before an invitation, at least one person says the topic has changed.
Then
Do not automatically invite that person. Let them choose speaking on the current topic, moving their turn to a later topic or declining.
If
One signal is given for urgent safety information or a brief factual correction.
Then
Do not put it into the ordinary queue. The facilitator checks the content and addresses it first if necessary.
Preparation
Materials
- One board per group for the speaking queue
- Erasable writing tools: 2 per group
Room and setup
- Place the queue where both facilitator and participants can see it.
Adjust for people and time
For 3–20 people, use one list. For 21–40 people, use a larger board managed by one recorder. For 41 or more people, divide the participant count by 20 and round up for the number of dialogue groups, separate their topics and distribute people evenly with no more than 20 per group. Keep each group’s queue self-contained; do not consolidate display names or speaking histories. Pass only urgent information that crosses areas to the whole-group facilitator.
Safety and non-applicable situations
Keep urgent safety information and brief factual corrections outside the ordinary queue. Respect the choice to decline or change the topic of a turn. Erase entries immediately after speaking or declining, do not retain names or symbols afterwards, and do not use the list as a permanent evaluation record.
Manuscript's recorded references
These translate the original manuscript's source and rights claims. They remain separate from any current-page notice below; they do not establish new verification.
- Seeds for Change Facilitation Tools: Keeping a speakers list
https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/tools
anti-copyright adaptation; changes made
- Conditions applying to anti-copyright
https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/resources
anti-copyright
Diagram, print, and video language
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Editorial provenance
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