What is the purpose of a structure?

What is the purpose of a structure?
To confine one within set boundaries? To constrict movement?

What if a structure could actually free you from self-imposed limitations?

That’s the promise of Liberating Structures, introduced by Keith McCandless and Henri Lipmanowicz. From engagement to decision-making, inclusion to collaboration, and reflection to action — these frameworks are powerful tools that can be applied across organizational contexts.

I recently attended a session titled “Power of Process(es) – Facilitating with Liberating Structures,” organized by the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) - India, Bangalore Hub.

It was a profound experience that sparked reflection and new possibilities.
The session explored five Liberating Structures:
1. 1-2-4-All
2. Troika Consulting
3. 25/10 Crowd Sourcing
4. What, So What, Now What?
5. User Experience Fishbowl

While I was familiar with a few, others were new and eye-opening, offering fresh approaches to build effective collaboration.

Grateful to the two brilliant facilitators, Deepa Mahesh and Bharti Maru, who guided us through each process with clarity and insight.

What made the session even more enriching was the opportunity to connect with several inspiring individuals — Sushma Banthia, Ravi Panicker, Dr. Shreya Govind ( Ph.D), Deepthi Boddupally, Rajesh C R, Latha Srinivasan, Pooja Kumar, Praveen Kumar Naidu, Neha Kumari, and many others who brought their unique perspectives and energy to the space.

Thank you, IAF, for curating such a powerful experience. I look forward to incorporating these processes in my upcoming facilitations.

Vaishnavi Prasad J R

Leadership & Professional Development Facilitator | Soft Skills Trainer | Learning & Development Professional | Empowering Individuals to Realize Their Full Potential

What is the purpose of a structure?

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