The liberating structure Troika consulting is such a working method that you can only appreciate when you have done it. Most people nod halfheartedly when explaining – “Okay. Get it. But what’s special about that? ‘ – but when they have done the troika, they are usually surprised and wildly enthusiastic.
The faciltator
Explain why this ‘micro structure’ is ideal for gaining inspiration for your personal legend and the brand legend. Briefly explain the method and let people come up with their own personal ‘theme’ individually. What are they up to and do they need advice?
Progress
Next we form groups of three with three chairs. Two of the three are always the consultants and one in the client. We do three rounds so that everyone has been a client once.
The first round begins. The three start opposite each other on the chair. The client explains in a minute what he / she is dealing with and needs advice on. The consultants then ask questions in a maximum of two minutes to get the request for help as clear as possible. Then the client turns his / her chair so that he / she is sitting with his / her back to the two consultants. The consultants talk to each other while the client listens in. This takes about five minutes. As soon as the final whistle sounds, the client turns back to the consultants. He tells in no more than two minutes what he found most valuable about the advice.
Plenary discussion
Ask the group about their findings. What valuable insights has troika consulting delivered? And important: can they do something with it in their daily practice?
In practice
I am a big fan of troika (also: troika) consulting. I like to participate as a client and consultant. It always yields surprising insights.
I recently used the ‘troika’ with a starting scrum team that I coach. It was still a group of people, not a team. The team members sniffed at each other and it seemed good to get the personal goals and challenges of the team members on the table. After all, you take yourself to work. The working method turned out to be very suitable. For example, one of the team members was very open about his depression, which visibly relieved him. He received very valuable and above all human advice from the two ‘consultants’. Who then were also very open about their own lives. To use a cliché: it immediately created a bond.
Tips
- Give the client a writing pad and pen. He / she can then read the notes again at a quiet moment
- Make sure that the setting is and feels safe for all participants. Have all attendees (excluding the organizer / facilitator) participate. So no manager listening in a corner.
- Step 1 and 2 are sometimes a bit unclear. So feel free to combine these steps. So 3 minutes for both the explanation of the problem by the client and the questions of the consultants to get the question clear.
More information
Read the complete instruction of the liberating structure Troika Consulting here .