Compass Points
Compass Points helps teams explore a proposal or idea from multiple perspectives, fostering more comprehensive decision-making. By considering different viewpoints, participants can identify potential benefits and concerns, leading to more informed and well-rounded strategies.
Use this method when a team needs to evaluate a new idea, proposal, or project from multiple angles before committing to a decision. It's particularly useful when you want to surface potential concerns or challenges early in the process.
Solves: Groupthink, overlooking potential risks, lack of diverse perspectives
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Step 1: Introduce the Compass Points (N, E, S, W) and their meanings: N (Needs - What needs to be considered?), E (Excitements - What excites you about this?), S (Stances/Suggestions - What is your stance or suggestion?), W (Worries - What worries you about this?). (5 minutes)
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Step 2: Individually, participants reflect on the proposal and jot down their thoughts for each compass point on sticky notes. (10 minutes)
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Step 3: In small groups (4-5 people), participants share their thoughts for each compass point, discussing the different perspectives. (10 minutes)
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Step 4: As a whole group, share key insights and themes that emerged from the small group discussions. (5 minutes)
- Clearly explain the meaning of each compass point to avoid confusion.
- Encourage participants to be honest and open in their reflections.
- Ensure that all voices are heard during the small group discussions.
- Use different prompts or questions for each compass point to tailor the activity to the specific topic.
- Have participants prioritize the most important points for each compass direction.