ORID Focused Conversation
Developed by the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA), the ORID method structures a conversation through four levels: Objective (observable facts), Reflective (emotional responses), Interpretive (meaning and implications), and Decisional (actions and next steps). By moving through these levels in order, it ensures conversations are grounded in shared facts before leaping to interpretation or decision — preventing the common facilitation failure of abstract debate disconnected from reality.
How to run it
- 1
Prepare questions for each ORID level before the session.
- 2
O — Objective: 'What did you see? What happened? What are the facts?' Get the group on the same factual page.
- 3
R — Reflective: 'What surprised you? What was exciting or troubling? How did you feel about it?' Surface the emotional response.
- 4
I — Interpretive: 'What does this mean for us? What are the implications? What patterns do you notice?' Build shared meaning.
- 5
D — Decisional: 'What will we do? What's our next step? Who does what by when?' Convert insight into action.
- 6
Do not skip levels or reverse the order — each level prepares the ground for the next.
Tips
Most meetings start at I or D and then fight about facts (O) and emotions (R) without realising it.
The ORID sequence resolves this.
The Reflective level is most often skipped — and most often the one that transforms a meeting.
Variations
Use ORID as a coaching conversation structure. Apply it to document review, article debriefs, video screenings, or field visits.
Where it fits
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