A session I delivered in the Regional Scrum Gathering Hyderabad, 2020

1. Small Changes Big Impacts
Rucha R. Kapare
Head of Business Analysis, Springer Nature
Pune

3. What is the biggest challenge you are facing right
now?

4. Our reaction to these challenges
When we face a challenge what we often see is the 85% things which we might
not have control over and end up feeling helpless.

5. But we live in a VUCA world
And often face such
situations in our
personal and
professional lives

6. Imagine
Imagine if you are in one such situation yet you get good results, how great it
would be?

7. 15% Solution
It is similar to moving a few rocks to change the course of a river.
Just think about what best you can do without
● More resources
● Authority
● Permissions
by just doing the things in your control

8. What is the biggest challenge you are facing right
now?
● Individually, Introspect and write down your 15% solution
● What is it that you can do best now? Where do you have discretion and
freedom to act? What can you do without more resources or authority?

9. How did/will it help?
● Helps move away from blockage and find solutions eventually boosting
confidence
● Have people discover their individual and collective power
● Remember unused capacity and resources (15 percent is always there for the
taking)
● Problem-solving or planning activity where you want individuals to take
initiative and by asking them how they can contribute towards a goal
● It can be used in retro’s and also in any forums where you want to leverage
unused capacity and ideas of the people around

10. What did we do here?
We introduced a small change in the way we think - by replacing a
conventional way of doing things also called as a ‘conventional microstructure’
to something called a ‘Liberating Structure’

11. Now think about
What applies to you as a group or organization
- Deadly boring and frustrating meetings
- Deciders separate from doers
- Brain numbing presentations
- Difficult conversation often avoided
- Teamwork that feels drudgery
- Fear and Politics getting the way
- More trainings but no changes
- People excluded because they would complicate decisions
And the list can go on...

12. Can anything in the above scenarios change
Off course yes!
But who would do it?
Us!
And How?
By using Liberating Structures
Too often we rely on experts to design our world while overlooking the people
directly in front of us

13. What are Liberating structures
You have already experienced one!

14. Liberating Structures
Liberating Structures introduce tiny shifts in how we
MEET, PLAN, DECIDE and RELATE to each other

15. Liberating Structures help make it happen
Liberating Structures are easy-to-learn microstructures that enhance
relational coordination and trust. They quickly foster lively participation in
groups of any size, making it possible to truly include and unleash everyone.
They are a disruptive innovation that can replace more controlling or
constraining approaches.

16. Who can use Liberating Structures
● Every person interested in leading change—in schools, hospitals,
foundations, agencies, and businesses—can use Liberating Structures to
generate innovation and great results
● Anyone who facilitates meetings
● From executives to grass root levels
● No special training or talent required – Only mastery is the key!

18. Microstructures
Design Elements

19. Microstructures
Conventional: presentations,
managed discussions, open
discussions, status reports and
brainstorm sessions
Liberating:

20. Design Elements

21. Design elements of 15% solution
Make an invitation - Ask a Question
Distribute participation - Everyone is included and has an opportunity to contribute
Configure Groups - First alone, then in pairs or small groups
Arrange space - Unlimited people, Chairs for people to sit in groups of 2-4; no tables required
Sequence of Steps and Time Allocation
● First alone, each person generates his/her own. 5 min.
● Individuals share their ideas with a small group (2-4 members). 3 min. per person
● Group members provide a consultation to one another (asking clarifying questions and offering advice). 5 to
7 min. per person and one person at a time

22. Lets understand a few more

23. Impromptu Networking
Rapidly Share Challenges and Expectations, Build New Connections (20 min)
How do you plan to stay healthy during these times?

24. Benefits
● Meet new people
● 2-3 Opportunities to articulate and hone your skills
● Initiate participation immediately
● Attract deeper engagement around challenges
● Invite stories to deepen as they are repeated
● Help shy people warm up
● Emphasize the power of loose and new connections
● Suggest that little things can make a big difference

25. 1-2-4-AllEngage Everyone Simultaneously in Generating Questions, Ideas,
and Suggestions (12 min)
What is your intention of attending this session? What could you
do with this information?

27. Benefits
● Every one participated in less than 12 minutes rather than just
one person – the SPEAKER
● Identified each others needs
● Made new connections and learnt about new ideas
● Sampled the entire room ideas
● Big Group VS cells to generate ideas
● Reveals the hidden and Its FUN!!

28. Troika Consulting
Get Practical and Imaginative Help from Colleagues Immediately (30 min)
Explore the questions “What is your challenge?” and “What kind of help do
you need?”

30. Reference : Liberating Structures website
To listen is very hard, because it
asks of us so much interior stability
that we no longer need to prove
ourselves by speeches, arguments,
statements or declarations. True
listeners no longer have an inner
need to make their presence known.
They are free to receive, welcome, to
accept. – Henri Nouwen

31. Benefits
● Unleashing local wisdom
● Refine listening and consulting skills
● Create conditions for unimagined solutions to emerge
● Learn to formulate problems and challenges clearly

32. Resources
Some resources below:
Website: http://www.liberatingstructures.com/ls/
Book:https://www.amazon.in/Surprising-Power-Liberating-Structures-Innovation-
ebook/dp/B00JET2S76
App:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.holisticon.app.ls&hl=en_IN
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/liberatingstructures/id1206361128?mt=8

33. Impromptu
Networking
Min Specs
Working
Agreement/ways
of working
Definition of
Done/Definition
of Ready
Min Specs
Sprint Planning
Planningaworkshop
Conversation Cafe
1-2-4-All
Fish Bowl
User Experience
Fish Bowl
Troika Consulting
Daily Stand up Sprint Review
What, So What,
Now What? W³
1-2-4-All
25-10
Crowdsourcing
Appreciative
Interviews

34. Impromptu
Networking
Retrospective
Triz
PlanningaRetro
Conversation Cafe
1-2-4-All
Fish Bowl
9 Why’s
25-10
Crowdsourcing
Appreciative
Interviews
What, So What,
Now What? W³

35. Reference : Atomic Habits

36. Thank You
You cannot cross the sea merely by standing
and staring at the water
- Rabindranath Tagore

37. Connect with me at -
kapare.rucha@gmail.com
rucha.kapare@springernature.com
ruchakapare
@ruchakapare