What I Need From You (WINFY)
What I Need From You (WINFY) is designed to improve communication and collaboration across different functions or disciplines by clarifying and responding to specific needs. Participants articulate their core needs and receive clear responses, fostering transparency and coordination.
How to run it
- 1
Invite participants to express what they need from others to achieve a common goal and to respond clearly to others' requests.
- 2
Arrange a large room with 3 to 7 functional clusters, each seated in a circle.
- 3
Each cluster discusses and lists their top needs from other functions using a structured format, then selects a spokesperson.
- 4
Spokespersons gather in a central circle, state their needs without receiving responses initially.
- 5
Spokespersons then write down responses to each request: yes, no, I will try, or whatever.
- 6
Each spokesperson shares their responses in the group, without discussion or elaboration.
- 7
Conclude with a 'What, So What, Now What?' debrief session.
Tips
Ensure requests are specific to avoid 'whatever' responses indicating vagueness.
Enforce rules on response options and discourage elaborations to maintain focus.
Limit the number of functional roles to seven for clarity.
Use debriefs to highlight the shift from complaints to actionable requests.
Variations
Consider a second round if issues remain unresolved. Allow participants to express unasked needs during debriefs. Try using the method with interdependent teams instead of functional clusters. Replace 'I will try' with 'Huh?' to prompt clarity.
Where it fits
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Try it freeMethod 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. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.