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[[List_of_methods|List of methods]]  /  [[List_of_methods#Facilitation|Facilitation]]

[[List_of_methods|List of methods]]  /  [[List_of_methods#Facilitation|Facilitation]]

Silent listening is a group facilitation technique, often used to avoid ''reporting back'' and to encourage multiple perspectives to form at an early stage in conversation. Silent listening is not a passive process but an active process where the speaker is given the opportunity to outline their case in their own time and listeners take notes. It is a process that means that listening of itself becomes a "radical act" <ref>Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human. N. Kline </ref> but without the need for prior coaching. The deliberate application of the method also means that the impulse to listen only for the sake of responding is curbed since immediate response is not an option. Like most [[Complex facilitation|complex facilitation]] techniques it creates a process from which the behaviour arises, rather than trying to define the behaviour.

Silent listening is a group facilitation technique, often used to avoid ''reporting back'' and to encourage multiple perspectives to form at an early stage in conversation, as well as deeper listening and scanning for information. It is a stand-alone method as well as a component of other methods. Silent listening is not passive but an active process where the speaker is given the opportunity to outline their case in their own time and listeners take notes. It is a process that means that listening of itself becomes a "radical act" <ref>Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human. N. Kline </ref> but without the need for prior coaching. The deliberate application of the method also means that the impulse to listen only for the sake of responding is curbed since immediate response is not an option. Like most [[Complex facilitation|complex facilitation]] techniques it creates a process from which the behaviour arises, rather than trying to define the behaviour.

[[Ritual dissent|Ritual Dissent]] is improved (and any risk reduced) if preceded by a round of silent listening and silent listening is a crucial component of the method itself.  

[[Ritual dissent|Ritual Dissent]] is improved (and any risk reduced) if preceded by a round of silent listening and silent listening is a crucial component of the method itself.  

===Facilitation skills Required===

===Facilitation skills Required===

The core of the Silent listening method is simple and can be applied to a range of different methods and approaches without requiring extensive facilitation skills.  Specific methods that include Silent listening might require an additional set of skills, and an understanding of the principles of[[Complex facilitation|complex facilitation]] is helpful in understanding the contexts where it can be best applied.  

The core of the Silent listening method is simple and can be applied to a range of different methods and approaches without requiring extensive facilitation skills.  Specific methods that include Silent listening might require an additional set of skills, and an understanding of the principles of [[Complex facilitation|complex facilitation]] is helpful in understanding the contexts where it can be best applied.  

===Preparation===

===Preparation===

==Workflow==

==Workflow==

The method is normally used after smaller groups have completed a task to either describe what is happening or come up with proposals about what should be done. In process facilitation each group would normally report back to the group as a whole, here we have multiple groups giving feedback in parallel.  These instructions assume three groups, but you can extend to any number but going much beyond seven gets tedious.  So in [[Large group facilitation|larger groups]] you might run this with three clusters of five tables to handle fifteen groups overall or similar

The method is normally used as a stand-alone after smaller groups have completed a task to either describe what is happening or come up with proposals about what should be done. In process facilitation each group would normally report back to the group as a whole, here we have multiple groups giving feedback in parallel.  These instructions assume three groups, but you can extend to any number but going much beyond seven gets tedious.  So in [[Large group facilitation|larger groups]] you might run this with three clusters of five tables to handle fifteen groups overall or similar.

 

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

|Each spokesperson then moves to the next group moving clockwise or anti-clockwise ||Do not move to the next stage until you have everyone in the right place!

|Each spokesperson then moves to the next group moving clockwise or anti-clockwise ||Do not move to the next stage until you have everyone in the right place!

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|The group is told that they must listen in complete silence while they hear the presentation, once complete the spokesperson much be completely silent and the group should then talk about what was said as if the spokesperson had left the room and was no longer there.||You may have to enforce this, preventing any questions of clarification or similar

|The group is told that they must listen in complete silence while they hear the presentation. Once complete, the spokesperson much be completely silent and the group should then talk about what was said as if the spokesperson had left the room and was no longer there. The spokesperson is not able to talk at all, not even to offer clarifications or explanations.||You may have to enforce this, preventing any questions of clarification or similar.

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|The spokesperson presents the work of their group for a maximum of four minutes and then fall silent and listen to what is said, if there is an observer they are silent throughout, only permitted to take notes||How long this takes place is really a judgement call - look for signs of falling energy levels

|The spokesperson presents the work of their group for a maximum of four minutes and then falls silent and listens to what is said. If there is an observer they are silent throughout, only permitted to take notes||How long this takes place is really a judgement call - look for signs of falling energy levels.

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|Once complete the spokesperson moves onto the next group and is '''not permitted''' to talk about what was said ||Again it is likely you will have to enforce this

|Once complete the spokesperson moves onto the next group and is '''not permitted''' to talk about what was said ||Again it is likely you will have to enforce this

==Do's and Don'ts==

==Do's and Don'ts==

This technique is used to examine the situational assessment and/or proposals of each group - not their hidden motivations or attitudes. Groups should be given a general warning about ad hominem feedback and told to comment on the idea, not the person.

This technique can be used to examine the situational assessment and/or proposals of each group - not their hidden motivations or attitudes. Groups should be given a general warning about ad hominem feedback and told to comment on the idea, not the person.

Default is to state that it cannot be until we have developed and tested practice.  If it can be run virtually then we describe it here.

==References==

==References==

*[[Complex facilitation]]

*[[Complex facilitation]]

*[[Ritual dissent]]

*[[Ritual dissent]]

<references />

<references />

===Blog posts===

===Blog posts===

===Cases===

===Cases===

None listed yet

None listed yet

==In a virtual environment==

==In a virtual environment==

The method has been conducted in virtual settings with success over a range of platforms.  

The method has been conducted in virtual settings with success over a range of platforms. The core principles and method description is fairly easy to apply to meeting rooms rather than physical groups or tables. Monitoring energy levels can be carried out through monitoring of tools such as collaboratives

See also [[Virtual facilitation]]

See also [[Virtual facilitation]]