Kemmy Raji presented on Liberating Structures, which are micro-structures that can be used to unleash innovative conversation. She discussed her background and qualifications. The presentation covered conventional structures versus liberating structures and described several specific micro-structures that were demonstrated in breakout rooms, including 1-2-4-All, Conversation Cafe, Positive Gossip, and What, So What, Now What. Examples of how these structures could be applied to Scrum meetings were provided. References for further information on Liberating Structures were shared and attendees were invited to connect with Kemmy Raji on social media.

1. LIBERATING STRUCTURES:
UNLEASH INNOVATIVE CONVERSATION
Presented by
Kemmy Raji
at
Agile Kenya Meetup

2. SOME THINGS ABOUT ME
qMother of 3 boys
qCoach, Mentor, Trainer
qLived in 3 continents- 5 countries
qDegrees in Management and International
Development
qPassionate about reducing poverty in the world
we live
qFounder of Trupus Group Inc- a consulting firm
qCertificates: PMP, PMI-ACP, Coactive, ORSC,
CTC, Kanban Model

5. MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH A CREATIVE COMMONS
NON-COMMERCIAL, ATTRIBUTION, SHARE-AND-SHARE
ALIKE LICENSE
You can use ‘em, you can share ‘em,
but you can’t sell ‘em.
Slide content adapted from materials developed by
Keith McCandless and other LS practitioners.
Most photographs by Keith McCandless, Fisher Qua, and others as noted.

6. CONVENTIONAL STRUCTURES
PRESENTATION

7. Conventional micro-structures
PRESENTATION
MANAGED
DISCUSSION
STATUS UPDATE BRAINSTORMING
OPEN
DISCUSSION
OVER-controlled under-CONTROLLED

8. The 5 micro-organizing
elements of every
STRUCTURE
An Invitation
Arrangement of Space
Sequence & Allocation of Time
Configuration of Groups
Distribution of Participation
Just like DNA these are always present,
yet easy to overlook!

9. MICROSTRUCTURES FOR TONIGHT
1,2,4, All
Conversation
Cafe
Positive
Gossip
What, so
What, Now
What

10. 1-2-4-All
Engage everyone simultaneously in generating ideas, questions, or suggestions
LS Journal p. 22

11. INSTRUCTIONS & STEPS
1. Alone, generate a response to the invitation (1 min)
2. Pairs, share what you came up with and mutually shape the
ideas (2 mins)
3. Quartets, try to synthesize a contribution (4 mins)
4. All, hear from any group with something everyone needs to
hear (4-10 mins)

12. INVITATION
What big challenge do you bring to this
gathering?
What do you hope to get from and give this
this community

13. IN BREAKOUT ROOMS

14. Conversation Cafe
Engage everyone in making sense of profound challenges

15. Talking Objects
o When holding the talking object you are invited to speak
o When someone else has the object you are invited to listen
o You may always “pass” the object if you do not feel like
contributing
o In a virtual Convo Cafe, the first person volunteers and verbally passes the
talking object by naming the next person to speak

16. 6 Conversation Café Agreements
o Suspend judgment as best
you can
o Respect one another
o Seek to understand rather
than persuade
o Invite and honor diverse
opinions
o Speak what has personal heart
& meaning
o Go for honesty and depth
without going on, on, and on

17. INVITATION
In this current situation, what are the
possibilities for you?

18. CONVERSATION CAFE
A. In the first round, when you have the talking object,
share what you are thinking, feeling, or doing about the
question (1 min each)
B. In the second round, follow up or elaborate on Round 1 (1
min each)
C. In the third round of open discussion, freely passing the
talking object
D. In the final round, briefly share your takeaways (1 min
each)

19. IN BREAKOUT ROOMS

20. POSITIVE GOSSIP
APPRECIATE OTHER PEOPLE’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR WORK OR
EXPERIENCE

21. IN BREAKOUT ROOMS

22. SHARE SOMETHING POSITIVE
ABOUT ANY OTHER PERSON IN
THIS GROUP BASED ON THEIR
RECENT BEHAVIOR OR
CONTRIBUTIONS.

23. WITH A NEW PARTNER -
SHARE SOMETHING POSITIVE
ABOUT A PERSON THAT HAS
GUIDED OR SUPPORTED YOU
PERSONALLY OR PROFESSIONALLY
(THEY MAY NOT BE PRESENT).

24. WITH A NEW PARTNER -
SHARE SOMETHING POSITIVE
ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR OR
CONTRIBUTION OF YOUR PARTNER
(THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU).

25. What, So What, Now What (W3)
Together, Look Back on Progress to Date and Decide What Adjustments Are Needed

26. WHAT? (OBSERVATION)
WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN, HEARD, OR
OBSERVED DURING THIS SESSION?
(AVOID CONCLUSIONS RIGHT NOW)

27. SO, WHAT? (INTERPRETATION)
WHY ARE THESE IMPORTANT? WHAT
PATTERNS OR CONCLUSIONS ARE
EMERGING?

28. NOW, WHAT? (NEXT STEPS)
NOW WHAT ACTIONS MAKE SENSE?

29. Sympathy and concern during this time
I have seen some people use video and others not :)
I have seen that getting everyone to make a meaningful contribution to a conversation shouldn’t be that hard!
12:08:43 From Arvid : I have seen the power of letting people communicate how they feel
12:08:44 From Daisy : I've observed that everyone I've been with in breakout sessions with is adjusting to the new norm
12:08:46 From Purity Njagi : I have heard that everybody is still figuring out the work from home
12:08:46 From Kathy Vaughan : great posivity, growth mindset, and openness to share
12:08:46 From Godfrey maina : Observation: how effective the “talking tool” can be in day to day work
12:08:49 From Evans : I have seen new and familiar faces and names, heard great new insights and observed that we have more in common during this time
12:08:52 From Rose Oketch : We contribute to each others growth
12:09:04 From Willy Bogonko : Seen: Having video on really helps in connecting with people especially if you haven’t engaged with them before. Heard: Challenges faced are not unique. Observed: People are always willing to help and share knowledge
12:09:18 From purity waigi : I have seen people have different yet familiar experiences
12:09:51 From Jeremiah Kuria : I have seen today's event has a good number of participants. Have heard nice ways to make use time
12:10:31 From Kathy Vaughan : there is deep commitment to trying these structures with our teams
12:10:33 From Lesley-Ann Vaughan : the work is more engaging when I can see body language and make eye connnection
12:10:40 From kemmy Raji : …………………………………………………..
12:10:47 From kemmy Raji : So, What
12:10:51 From Arvid : Effective communication helps people to align and build empathy towards each other.
12:10:52 From NGANGA.DENNIS : there is power in sharing

30. WHAT, SO WHAT, NOW WHAT
What
• Sympathy and concern during this time
• I have seen some people use video and others not :)
• I have seen that getting everyone to make a meaningful contribution to
a conversation shouldn’t be that hard!
• I have seen the power of letting people communicate how they feel
• I've observed that everyone I've been with in breakout sessions with is
adjusting to the new norm
• I have heard that everybody is still figuring out the work from home
• great positivity, growth mindset, and openness to share
• how effective the “talking tool” can be in day to day work
§ I have seen new and familiar faces and names, heard great new insights
and observed that we have more in common during this time
§ We contribute to each others growth
§ Seen: Having video on really helps in connecting with people especially
if you haven’t engaged with them before. Heard: Challenges faced are
not unique. Observed: People are always willing to help and share
knowledge
§ I have seen people have different yet familiar experiences
§ I have seen today's event has a good number of participants. Have heard
nice ways to make use time
§ there is deep commitment to trying these structures with our teams
§ the work is more engaging when I can see body language and make eye
connection
So, What
§ Effective communication helps people to align and build empathy
towards each other.
§ there is power in sharing
§ Given a chance everyone can contribute to a discussion,
§ We need to decentralize our structures in order to get better
communication outcomes
§ Helps to know there are many of us eager to learn and apply these
techniques,
§ We are all doing the best we can with what we know
§ These lead to more effective conversations and meaningful use of
everyone's time.
§ the work is more engaging when I can see body language and make
eye connection
§ Feelings / need to both learn and to connect
§ comms skills, growth
§ work from home is a new experience and it's important to maintain
the positivity and there is power in listening
§ Similar experiences all round
§ Talking tool is important because the loudest get heard all the time
but equal time distribution is important for everyone to contribute
Now What
§ Pick a structure, try it, and report back. practice, experiment,
practice
§ Try to make it possible to turn on video as much as possible even
when the other party can't, even if its only for part of the
conversation.
§ Setting the frame/environment is important for effective
communication.
§ positive feedback to everyone in the team especially during
retros
§ To have an open session with the teams
§ I'll incorporate what I've learned here in my team meetings.
§ Empathy:
§ Read more into these and know what makes sense for the
specific situation that I am in
§ Apply the lessons to our daily lives
§ Open sharing
§ setting and engagement that allows inclusivity

31. SCRUM MEETINGS
Backlog Refinement: Troika Consultations; Ecocycle Planning; UX
Fishbowl
Sprint Planning: Celebrity Interview; UX Fishbowl; Mininum Spec
Sprint Review: Positive Gossip; Shift & Share; What, So What, Now
What (W3)
Sprint Retrospective:Heard, Seen, Respected; Open Space
Technology; TRIZ
Daily scrum: 15% Solutions; Appreciative Interview

32. REFERENCES
App:- http://liberatingstructures.app/
Website: http://www.liberatingstructures.com/ls-
menu/
Cards to print- https://bit.ly/3bKMlqc
Slack Channel: liberatingstructures.slack.com
Create your first LS string: https://bit.ly/3cFLub3

33. CONNECT WITH ME
Twitter: @kemmraj
Instagram: @kemkrs
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kemmy-
raji/

34. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS