Method guide · Arrange people and ideas
Relationship Pattern Shift
Compare outward descriptions, actual relationships, and desired relationships to form a hypothesis for a small change.
- People
- 4–24
- Base procedure time
- 75 minutes
- Recording
- Shared record
Purpose: Build working relationships.
English guide
Text acceptance is not approval of this rendered page, its media, or publication.
How this method works
A method for comparing three relationship states and forming a hypothesis about how people want to work. Use it where descriptions of collaboration differ from its reality. Draw the state described to outsiders, the actual state, and the desired state separately, using roles as the units. Comparing the differences between states and the benefits and risks of each connection reveals possible small changes to try. Do not write personal names or non-public relationships, and leave absent perspectives blank rather than speaking for them. The output is a hypothesis diagram with possible trials and consultation contacts, not a personnel evaluation or organisational decision. This description is an original adaptation of the current 2026 Liberating Structures method under CC BY-SA 4.0. Do not run it to change staffing, chains of command, information permissions, laws, or safety solely within this session.
Phase schedule
Minutes are cumulative from the start of the base plan, not a live timer. Read scaling for any additional time. Phase controls do not advance automatically.
Use the arrow keys, Home or End while these controls have focus. The complete phase schedule remains below, including without JavaScript.
- Limit the shared purpose and units of recording0–10 minutes from the start (10 minutes)
Action: Limit. Participation: Groups of 3–5.
Shared record
- Depict the outward, actual, and desired states10–25 minutes from the start (15 minutes)
Action: Depict. Participation: Individually.
Shared record
- Compare differences, benefits, and risks across the three states25–45 minutes from the start (20 minutes)
Action: Compare. Participation: Groups of 3–5.
Shared record
- Rework desired connections and a small trial45–65 minutes from the start (20 minutes)
Action: Rework. Participation: Groups of 3–5.
Shared record
- Pass the hypothesis to consultation contacts and deadlines65–75 minutes from the start (10 minutes)
Action: Refer. Participation: Groups of 3–5.
Shared record
Facilitation steps
- For 10 minutes, confirm the shared purpose, the scope to depict using role names only, who may see the output, and the limits that prevent it from becoming a formal decision.
- For 15 minutes, each person depicts the state described to outsiders, the actual state, and the desired state on 3 blank sheets.
- For 20 minutes, groups of 3–5 compare the 3 states, identifying differences between perspectives, each connection's benefits and risks, and blank areas.
- For 20 minutes, choose one desired connection and add to the hypothesis diagram a small action that could be tried today and a way to observe it.
- For 10 minutes, record absent perspectives, authorised decision-makers, specialists to consult, and consultation deadlines. Do not use the diagram to evaluate individuals.
If something changes
If
At least one role diagram includes a personal name, health information, harm experienced, employment evaluation, or a non-public relationship.
Then
Stop sharing it. Have the person rewrite it using only role names and work-related connections. Return the original sheet or shred it.
If
At least one statement asserts that a participant represents an absent perspective or asks one person to speak for the entire group.
Then
Stop speaking on others' behalf. Leave absent perspectives and unconfirmed matters blank, and record a way to check them with the person's consent.
If
At least one proposed connection change concerns staffing, chains of command, information permissions, laws, or safety.
Then
Do not decide to implement it. Return it to the hypothesis diagram and record the formal authority, specialist to consult, and consultation deadline before any trial.
Preparation
Materials
- 12 self-made cards per group, labelled only with role names
- 3 blank sheets per person for separate outward, actual, and desired states, plus 3 spare sheets per group
- 20 connection-line cards per group
- One set of choice cards per person: writing, dictating, drawing, and passing
- One thick pen per person
- One opaque envelope per group for separating sensitive information
Room and setup
- Prepare a surface where groups of 3–5 can gather around role cards and depict the state described to outsiders, the actual state, and the desired state on separate blank sheets.
- Do not put personal names, non-public relationships, or sensitive information on shared diagrams. Offer dictation, drawing, writing, and passing.
- Do not speak for absent perspectives; leave them blank. Refer changes to staffing, chains of command, information permissions, laws, or safety for formal confirmation.
Adjust for people and time
With 4–5 people, form one group. With 6–10, form 2 groups of 3–5. With 11–24, divide the participant count by 5 and round up to find the number of groups, then distribute people so group sizes differ by no more than 1 and each group has 3–5. Keep personal names and non-public relationships within their original group. Bring back to everyone only possible trials and matters to check expressed in terms of roles. With 25 or more people, use separate sessions.
Safety and non-applicable situations
Use role names rather than personal names on shared diagrams. Do not share non-public relationships or sensitive information. Offer dictation, drawing, writing, and passing. Leave absent perspectives blank instead of claiming to represent them. The diagram is a hypothesis, not a personnel evaluation or organisational decision. Refer staffing, command, information-permission, legal, and safety changes to formal authorities and specialists before a trial.
Historical translation and source notes
These original notes are retained verbatim with their fixed source versions. This historical label does not resolve a source-specific concern or establish current acceptance.
- The source prohibits writing personal names and non-public relationships on shared diagrams, while its scaling text also says not to take them outside the group. This draft preserves both statements and does not treat group-only sharing as permission to add them to the shared diagram.
Manuscript's recorded references
These translate the original manuscript's source and rights claims. They remain separate from any current-page notice below; they do not establish new verification.
- Liberating Structures: Five Structural Elements; Attribution
https://www.liberatingstructures.com/network-relationship-patterns
Adaptation under CC-BY-SA-4.0; changes made
- Conditions of CC-BY-SA-4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Current-page licence notice
This explanation is an adaptation for Taiwa no Fumen based on the official Liberating Structures page linked below. The manuscript's recorded references are listed separately from the web page checked on 17 October 2026.
Changes: the Japanese explanation and facilitation plan have been edited for Taiwa no Fumen. The English edition translates that Japanese manuscript; it is not a verbatim translation of the official page.
The LS-adapted text on this page, including this site's editorial and translation contributions, is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. When reusing it, credit the creators, identify the source and licence, indicate changes, and follow the licence's ShareAlike terms when sharing adaptations.
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Credits on the checked source page
- Developed by: Eva Schiffer, Keith McCandless
Related work credited on that page: Eva Schiffer; Net-Map.
Source page checked on 2026-10-17: Network Relationship Patterns.
Source lineage
- Original repertoire (2013): Henri Lipmanowicz, Keith McCandless
- 2026 Fieldbook: Keith McCandless, Nancy White
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International · Legal code · Official source policy
This material-specific notice does not itself establish publication clearance. Preserved manuscript references above remain separate from the current page's credits and licence evidence.
Diagram, print, and video language
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Editorial provenance
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