Focused Conversations
Deep Dialogue with Life ExperiencesThe Conversation Method
The ARTFORM CONVERSATION, named for its original use in discussing movies, poetry and paintings, is designed to peel back layers of awareness to get at the very origins of the decisions and relationships out of which people live. The process is now referred to as The Focused Conversation Method. In addition, applying this method not only to art objects but to events, settings, and people allows individuals accustomed to the frantic pace of life to stand back and re-examine and reflect on their experiences.
This method was first developed in the 1960’s as a part of Ecumenical Institute Imaginal Education Methods. It is based on a natural process of thinking with four levels: Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, Decisional (ORID). The documentation below is a combination of early theoretical work and the evolution of the method over the years, while always maintaining the original ORID structure.
MATERIALS FROM THE ARCHIVES
Methods Manual – pp. 8 & 9
The Artform Method as the Foundation of Imaginal Education, p.2 in the Transformational Methodologies document p. 2
Basic Art Form Method Historical document, no attribution
Conversation Relationship Comparisons, Summer ’72 Spirit Methods, Core Curriculum – week 4, Research Assembly, Institute of Cultural Affairs, Chicago, Summer 1973
Cultivating Collective Consciousness with Transcendent Self-Presence: A Guided Dialogue Method, Jean Watts, Jean Miller Ph.C, Pat Kloepfer, 2003
Guided Dialogue: A Way of Accelerating Cultural Transformation, Jean Watts, 2009, Facilitative Leadership Institute.
Guided Dialogue, Jean Watts, Facilitative Leadership Institute 2010 1 Guided Dialogue for Releasing Depth Wisdom Jean Watts
Surface-to-Depth Discussion Method, Nicknamed ‘ORID’ , David Dunn, pages 133-137 in Developing Adult Learners: Strategies for Teachers and Trainers, Jossey-Bass, 2000, San Francisco, CA
Patterns in Leading a Group Discussion, Early document, Focused Conversation (ORID) instructions
Examples of Focused Conversations
The Basic Conversation Method (ORID) historical examples:
EI/ICA Artform Method Conversation Questions A Sample of Questions Used in Movie Conversations
Sample of a conversation reflecting on a piece of art by Pablo Picasso GUERNICA
Gridding Using Art Form Conversation
Based on the poems and parables from writings of Chuang Tsu, Week 7 Quarter 4 1975-76 Week II Conversations
An excerpt from The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism, by Daniel Bell, week 8 1975-76 Week II Conversations
A Book, The Milagro Beanfield War, Wednesday Night Conversations, ICA New York Region
The Basic Conversation Method (ORID) contemporary examples:
Racial Equity Impact Conversation
Created by Prince Corbett, used with permission of HUE LIFE, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Debriefing a Major Trauma from Focused Conversations for Schools. Jo Nelson, New Society Publishers & The Canadian Institute of Cultural Affairs, 2001.
Spirit Conversation and Examples
Conversations focused specifically on the area of Spirit are nonetheless another way of reflecting. This method is a different format, more designed to allow the group to profoundly experience the “awe” around a particular topic. Below are an article and sample conversations.
Operating Principles of Spirit Conversations, George West, January 21, 1971
“Tears” An example of a spirit conversation, Joseph Slicker, 1971
Spirit Conversation, Water – CONTEMPLATION, Summer 1973, Spirit Conversation Preparation, Community Life, Task Force S, ICA Global Research Assemble, Guru Guide reprint, July 1977, Chicago
Spirit Conversation: Social Anger
See also the Inner Life Collection on Spirit Conversations.
Year-end Reflection
John Cock, Institute of Cultural Affairs Colleague
Below is a sample of an alternative way to use the Focused Conversation structure (ORID) by completing sentences.
OBJECTIVE
Earth-wide events and the event for me …
National events and the event for me …
Community events and the event for me …
Family events and the event for me …
Personal events and the event for me …
REFLECTIVE
Laughed big-time when …
Wept over …
Enraged because of …
Hopeful because of …
Joyful about …
INTERPRETIVE
Really struggled with …
A big idea began to dawn when …
Was empowered by …
I wish I had done …
DECISIONAL
Stood tall in the midst of …
My most transformative event of the year …
My journey of the past year has been like …
My emerging story-line is …
Life Reflections Worksheet
A template or worksheet using the ORID structure to reflect on one’s life.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Papers on Focused Conversations
Methods Manual – pp. 8 & 9
The Artform Method as the Foundation of Imaginal Education, p.2 in the Transformational Methodologies document p. 2
Basic Art Form Method Historical document, no attribution
Conversation Relationship Comparisons, Summer ’72 Spirit Methods, Core Curriculum – week 4, Research Assembly, Institute of Cultural Affairs, Chicago, Summer 1973
Cultivating Collective Consciousness with Transcendent Self-Presence: A Guided Dialogue Method, Jean Watts, Jean Miller Ph.C, Pat Kloepfer, 2003
Guided Dialogue: A Way of Accelerating Cultural Transformation, Jean Watts, 2009, Facilitative Leadership Institute.
Guided Dialogue, Jean Watts, Facilitative Leadership Institute 2010 Guided Dialogue for Releasing Depth Wisdom Jean Watts
Surface-to-Depth Discussion Method, Nicknamed ‘ORID’, David Dunn, pages 133-137 in Developing Adult Learners: Strategies for Teachers and Trainers, Jossey-Bass, 2000, San Francisco, CA
Patterns in Leading a Group Discussion, Early document, Focused Conversation (ORID) instructions
Books on Focused Conversations
(books available from iUniverse or Amazon)
The Art of Focused Conversation, 100 Ways to Access Group Wisdom in the Workplace, ed. R. Brian Stanfield, New Society Publishers, 2000
The Art of Focused Conversation for Schools, Over 100 Ways to Guide Clear Thinking and Promote Learning, Jo Nelson, New Society Publishers, 2001
LEARN TO FACILITATE THE FOCUSED CONVERSATION METHOD
The Focused Conversation is one of two or three foundational methods taught around the world as part of the “gateway” Technology of Participation (ToP)® course as well as being offered on occasion as a separate course. For a comprehensive list of current course offerings and to register, click here.