5. Community & Civil Voice & Capacity
Tools For Community Cooperation
Developing Ideas
Open Space (DOC 111kb)
Open Space is an intensely democratic framework which enables an unlimited number of participants to create their own programme of discussions around a central theme. It is particularly effective in generating high-energy participation, learning and commitment to action.
Brain Writing (DOC 126kb)
This lateral thinking tool can be used in a workshop scenario where ideas are required - for example to generate new income generating options for a social enterprise or to find a new way to resolve a problem with catering at a community centre.
Vision to Reality (DOC 126kb)
Vision to Reality - Portuguese (DOC 126kb)
This tool can be used when you have developed the vision for your project or community. It involves a fun interactive game using chairs to plan forward by stepping back!
Enquiry Reflective Questions (DOC 109kb)
These are reflective questions to ask oneself in given situations, usually involving interactions with others (e.g. meetings, raining workshops, area meetings, interactions with colleagues and team members).
Perspective Wheel (DOC 136kb)
Perspective Wheel - Portuguese (DOC 135kb)
Purpose of this tool is to help clients who feel frustrated or "stuck" find alternative perspectives, move forwards, and/or learn more about themselves and their options for development.
Listening Habits (DOC 111kb)
Empathic listening is fundamental for effective coaching. Negative listening habits sometimes prohibit us from being a good listener. Everyone is affected by listening blocks to some extent and this is an opportunity to become more aware of yours.
Positive Language (DOC 131kb)
Looks at ways you can communicate in a more positive way to be more likely to elicit cooperation rather than argument or confrontation. Whether you are communicating with clients/customers, colleagues, or family/friends, you can use positive language to project a helpful, positive image rather than a destructive negative one.
Ladder of Inference (DOC 109kb)
The ladder of inference describes a series of steps which show the thinking process people go through as they selectively pick up signals (or data) from situations they find themselves in, read things into or draw conclusions from those signals and then behave as a result. An understanding of the ladder of inference helps surface these mindset assumptions and increases awareness of them.
Consensus Voting (DOC 129kb)
Consensus voting is designed to help making difficult social choices. It works by identifying all the options, then giving people a chance to vote on each one.
Developing Teams
Learning Style Inventory (DOC 166kb)
This tool and related questionnaire was developed by Peter Honey and Alan Mumford based on their experiential learning model. It enables people to identify their preferred learning sytle. Knowing your learning style and the style of others can help build relationships and improve understanding.
Temporary Teams (DOC 176kb)
This tool consists of a checklist to make sure that the team is clear about purpose and boundaries and that all logistical and membership issues have been fully considered before the team commences work. There is also a reference table of the characteristics of a Dream team to aim for and those of a Nightmare team to avoid!
Affirmations (DOC 125kb)
Positive statements that help people overcome negative self perceptions and visualise new possibilities for themselves in the future.
Conflict Management Tools (DOC 151kb)
Conflict is an inevitable part of team, organisational, community and personal life. This paper provides understanding of conflict and some useful tools to help deal with it.
Collecting Data
Access to Information (DOC 219kb)
Provides tips on how to conduct surveys in the area. More information on surveying is available here.