Acknowledgements: Template draws from Theory U, Mind Valley, and Microsolidarity

Aims: To give an individual the experience of receiving the undivided attention and support of their peers regarding a situation that’s proving a challenge to navigate alone.

📥 Check In

1. The scheduler nominates someone starts the check-in by sharing:
   1. What you were up to before the call
   2. How you’re feeling today
   3. How you’re feeling about the call to come
2. The person who checked in then passes to someone who hasn’t gone yet

🪑 Settle In

• “Now we have a moment to do whatever you need to do to settle in, feel comfortable, and focus for the next 70 minutes. You might want to take some deep breaths, stretch a little, whatever you need to do to be here fully with us. If you’ve just now realised you actually need to use the bathroom, or get some water or tea I suggest you do this now, as we’re going to be sitting here for a decent block of time.”

📜 Case Clinic

1. 👀 Peruse the template

   • If it’s the group’s first time meeting, it can be helpful to skim the document to know what to expect in advance

2. ⏳ Nominate Time Keeper

   • Someone is nominated to be the “timekeeper”.
   • If it’s the first session, this person is generally whoever scheduled the crew call
   • After that, it’s whoever was the last to share a case
   • It’s the timekeeper’s responsibility to be tracking time, keep up with the template, and remind people if they’re straying from the format (95% of the time this is just rousing on people for accidentally giving premature advice).

3. 📜 Case Bringer shares case (20mins) (🙅‍♀️ no advice or reactions allowed)

   • One person in the crew is the “case bringer”, and the rest are “coaches”
   • The “case bringer” has 20 minutes to share the details of a problem they’re struggling with at the moment.
   • The rest of the crew (the “coaches”) are tasked with listening deeply and asking clarifying questions. It’s not our job to solve the problem, only to listen deeply and try to understand it as best as we’re able.”
   • It’s vital at this stage that the coaches refrain from sharing reactions, framings, or from giving advice. This frees attention to instead notice questions that arise, and how what is being shared is having on one’s self.
   • Note: It’s easy to accidentally give advice in the form of a question i.e. “have you tried X” or “have you read Y”. Ask instead, “what have you tried?”
   • If the case bringer has time (they often don’t) they may wish to try answering the following questions (expandable)
   • F.A.Q on this step (click arrow to expand)

4. 🧘‍♂️ Everyone takes a moment (5 minutes)

   • Everyone takes time to reflect on what was shared and note their reactions. Generally this looks like everyone:
     1. Turning off their camera and mic
     2. Being still, playing back everything they were told in their mind
     3. Writing down a list of emotional reactions
     4. Thinking of images, metaphors, or framings that capture the essence of what was shared
     5. Noting last any advice you have to share, or help they’re willing to offer

5. ❤️ Coaches mirror case back (20 minutes) (🙅‍♀️ still no advice allowed)

   1. Each coach makes an effort to render themselves transparent to the case bringer and other coaches still without giving advice. This is done by:
      • Sharing your understanding of what you heard (expand for examples)
      • Sharing their emotional reactions to the case (expand for examples)
      • Sharing any summarising metaphors or framings that came to mind (expand for examples)
   2. The case bringer then in turn shares:
      1. How it felt to share the case
      2. How it felt to hear the coaches mirror it, and what stood out to them
      3. Any further thoughts that were brought out by what they’ve heard
   • Expand for F.A.Q on this step

6. 🧱 Generative Dialog (20 minutes) (😁 ok, now advice is allowed)

   • The conversation becomes a little less structured, and starts flowing from topic to topic and person to person while remaining in service of the case bringer
   • Coaches can broach the topic of advice, although still without pressure to fix or resolve the challenge.

7. 👋 Closing Remarks (10 minutes) (😁 now advice is welcome)

   • Everyone gets the opportunity to offer closing remarks, generally involving:
     • How they feel now
     • Their overall reaction to what was shared
     • What they understand the key issue to be
     • Any actions they propose or are thinking of undertaking
     • An expression of thanks and acknowledgement