The Art of Focused Conversation, Second Edition: More Than 100 Ways to Access Group Wisdom in Your Organization

The essential, bestselling guide to designing and leading useful and effective group conversations, now completely revised and updated.

The Art of Focused Conversation is the quintessential theoretical and practical guide to group communication and participatory decision-making. Incorporating over 60 years of meticulous research and collaborative development, this perennial, international bestseller is an indispensable addition to any facilitator’s toolkit.

The Focused Conversation Method at the heart of The Art of Focused Conversation is a core component of the Technology of Participation (ToP) methodology developed by the Institute of Cultural Affairs. The original book is widely regarded as a key resource for designing and leading useful and effective conversations and fostering consensus and collaboration. This fully updated and revised edition includes:

• Preparation and guidelines for discussing challenging topics and facilitating a focused conversation
• A comprehensive overview of the ORID framework, made up of Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, and Decisional questions which guide a group to wise decisions
• In-depth analysis of how the underlying structure of ToP is based on applied phenomenology and is supported by the latest findings in neuroscience and social psychology
• New sections on diversity, equity, and inclusion; work-life balance; conflict resolution; and guiding focused conversations online
• 125 sample conversations that can be adapted to any situation.

Invigorate and elevate your group process with this invaluable resource--required reading for facilitators, leaders, educators, and anyone who wants to think clearly and guide thoughtful conversations.

R. Brian Stanfield was a recognized leader in the fields of community development and facilitation. As well as his decades of experience as an educator and researcher, he held the position of Director of Publications at the Canadian Institute of Cultural Affairs for many years. In his career with ICA, he played a role in developing the Technology of Participation (ToP) methods, which are widely used in group facilitation and community work around the world. He was editor of the magazine Edges: New Planetary Patterns, General Editor of the first edition of The Art of Focused Conversation and The Workshop Book, and author of The Courage to Lead. Brian’s work made a lasting contribution to the use of participatory practices in facilitation. He died in 2006.

Jo Nelson is a Certified ToP Facilitator, a founding member of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF), and an IAF Certified Professional Facilitator Emeritus. She worked globally with the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) for 50 years, facilitating participatory development projects in many countries, and designing and teaching all of ICA Canada’s ToP facilitator training programs. She has used and refined the Focused Conversation Method since its inception, was a contributor to the first edition of The Art of Focused Conversation, and is author of The Art of Focused Conversation for Schools and co-author of Getting to the Bottom of ToP: Foundations of the Methodologies of the Technology of Participation. Jo has received several awards for her contributions to the field of facilitation, and has been inducted into the IAF Hall of Fame. Jo Nelson lives in Toronto, Canada.