FacilitationAdvanced

Liberating Structures String

A Liberating Structures String is a purposefully designed sequence of two or more Liberating Structures methods, where the output of each step feeds into the next. Rather than using a single method, the String creates a coherent learning and action journey. The sequencing is a design art: each method prepares the psychological and informational ground for what follows.

Duration

1h–3h

Group size

5–100 people

Materials

depends on chosen LS methods

Origin

Liberating Structures

How to run it

1
Define your purpose: what do you want the group to achieve by the end of the session?
2
Choose a string of 2–5 LS methods whose outputs chain naturally. Example: '1-2-4-All' → 'Wicked Questions' → 'TRIZ' → 'What, So What, Now What'.
3
Design the transitions: how does the output of each step become the input for the next?
4
Run the string in sequence, keeping transitions crisp and clear.
5
Harvest insights and commitments at the end of the string.
6
Debrief the process itself: what did participants notice about how the sequence shaped their thinking?

Tips

The most common beginner mistake is choosing methods that are individually great but don't chain well.
Design strings starting from the end: what do you need to have generated by the last step, and what needs to be true before that step can work?',

Variations

Create a 'starter string' for common situations (e.g. 'New Initiative String', 'Conflict Resolution String'). Share and adapt strings across your facilitation community.

Where it fits

Complex multi-hour workshopsStrategic offsite designCommunity problem-solvingOrganisational learning events

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Method descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Liberating Structures.