Liberating Structures

What if you could unleash the best in everyone? Most organizations are trapped in the same tiresome habits - presentations, brainstorming sessions and open debates that go nowhere. The result? Frustrated teams, wasted potential and the same people dominating every conversation. Liberating Structures blow all of that up. Featuring 39 practitioners from across the globe - from Tokyo boardrooms and Brazilian hotel ballrooms to Krakow universities and Zoom calls in Latin America - this book is a front-row seat to a quiet revolution in how people work together. Through vivid, real-world stories, you'll discover how simple, elegant interaction methods can transform passive audiences into energised contributors, turn conflict into collaboration and unlock the collective intelligence hiding in plain sight within your organisation. Whether you're a project manager, nurse, teacher, executive, parent, partner or coach, these are tools you can use tomorrow - no expert training required. Stop managing. Start liberating. Unleash collaboration. "Viva la democracia!" - a participant, after experiencing Liberating Structures for the first time. Written and curated by German Liberating Structures Pioneers Anja Ebers and Birgit Nieschalk. Foreword contributions from Liberating Structures founders Keith McCandless and Henri Lipmanowicz.

Birgit Nieschalk works with leaders and organizations striving for genuine participation, ownership, and better decision-making. As a trainer, coach, consultant, and facilitator, she supports leaders and teams in transforming their collaboration-with Liberating Structures at the heart of everything she does. One of the most recognized voices for Liberating Structures (LS) in the German-speaking world, Birgit is considered an LS pioneer who actively contributes to the global Liberating Structures community. She hosts LS Connect, the annual gathering of the German-speaking LS community, co-founded the Cologne LS User Group, and runs the Liberating Lounge - an online community for people who want to unlock real collaboration in their teams. Anja Ebers is dedicated to cultivating vibrant and productive collaboration. As an independent process guide and consultant, she supports leadership teams and communities in becoming more participatory, agile, and self-reliant. She is an experienced practitioner of Liberating Structures and a skilled community builder. She takes fun seriously and enjoys doodling, journaling, and developing collaboration canvases. Her invitation to play is irresistible. She developed the LS Learning Journal, which are now used in multiple languages around the world. With the Leadertrip Log, she has created a structured space for leaders and facilitators to reflect on their presence, intentions, and the impact of the structures they choose to implement.