relationship-buildingIntermediate

Heard, Seen, Respected (HSR)

Heard, Seen, Respected (HSR) is a method designed to enhance empathy and listening skills within a group. It encourages participants to share personal stories about not feeling heard, seen, or respected, fostering an environment of trust and understanding. Use this method to improve interpersonal dynamics and address underlying relational issues.

Duration

35m

Group size

4+ people

Materials

Chairs

Origin

Liberating Structures

CCBY-SA 4.0

How to run it

1
Arrange chairs in pairs facing each other with no tables in between.
2
Introduce the purpose of HSR: practicing listening without judgment or the urge to fix.
3
In pairs, each participant takes turns sharing a 7-minute story about a time they felt unheard, unseen, or disrespected. Listeners should refrain from interrupting, except to ask questions like 'What else?'
4
After both have shared, partners discuss their experiences of storytelling and listening for 5 minutes.
5
Form groups of four to discuss patterns noticed in the stories using the 1-2-4 method, focusing on the significance of these patterns.
6
Conclude with a group reflection on how HSR could address challenges revealed by the stories and explore other Liberating Structures that might help.

Tips

Encourage participants to choose stories that are meaningful but not overly distressing.
Remind listeners to focus on being present rather than forming judgments or solutions.
Ensure confidentiality by discussing what can be shared outside the exercise.

Variations

For a deeper exploration, replace 'respected' with 'loved' to examine feelings of unconditional care. Combine HSR with other Liberating Structures like Troika Consulting or Conversation Café to further mend and strengthen relationships.

Where it fits

Regular meetings to enhance listening and empathy.Periods of transition when future uncertainties are high.Contexts where individuals need to share grief or loss.

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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. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.