"If real change is going to happen,
we need totally new ways of doing things together."

A Natural Thinking Process

Technology of Participation is a method that is built upon the foundations of life experience. The ToP method follows natural processes of the human mind. We are not always conscious of them, but they happen. These methods help groups think, talk and work together. They provide group facilitators with structured methods to assist a group in thinking clearly and productively together.  Think of it as a series of steps.

ToP Foundations
the ways we think when we think clearly

The Objective  Level
We find the reality of life in the real, palpable, observable, sensory world. We live in a tension, driven by our dreams and, at the same time, blocked by obstacles. We find ourselves in the midst of a multitude of interacting forces. ToP facilitation methods begin with "what is" and create a common foundation of reality for discussions and collaborative work. Starting with a concrete beginning point, like " last month's activity report", or a focus question, like "What are the elements we want to include in this new program?" enables all participants to bring their attention together on the most basic information necessary for the discussion. Leave this step out and people will be all over the place - confused and likey disconnected. Include it and people start on the "same page" and are able to continue thinking together.

ToP calls this the "objective" level, because it asks us to examine what is before us in an objective manner. Clarifying our situation places us in position to take a positive, proactive relationship to the situation as it actually is. It creates a foundation for our thinking.

The Reflective Level
We make connections among ideas automatically. It's unavoidable. Authentic feelings and associations are triggered by our experiences and perceptions.They are just as real as the externally observable data, and must be considered seriously in making decisions. This is the area we often wish to deny; only to find that it surfaces later; often in unhelpful ways. It just happens. Our images, memories and feelings reveal valuable information and open us to the world of intuition, memory, emotion and imagination. Examining our experience makes us conscious, enriches our dialogue and makes it real. It helps us "experience our experience." Leave this step out and be robbed of the richness and find repressed feelings surfacing later in negative forms. Include it, reflect, become more conscious and gain from real experience.

ToP calls this the "reflective" level, because it asks us to step back and reflect on our perceptions. We bring our associations, memories, feelings and intuitions to consciousness. Identifying and owning our initial responses enables our reflections to inform the relationship we chose to take to our given situation.

The Interpretive Level
Insight arises out of reflection on real experience. Meaning is created out of the mundane encounters in the midst of life. Meaning is something we all have to work at constantly, by thoughtfully reflecting on the actual life we have on our hands. We work through the layers of meaning, purpose, significance, implications, "story" and values to get to the core. We consider alternatives and options open to us. Leave this step out and people will argue forever and it will look like a verbal plate of sphagetti. Insight will become subservient to power and influence. Include it  and deepen the group's thinking. A group can develop insight and understandings and they can move forward together.

ToP calls this the "interpretive" level, because it is at this level that we analyze, gain understanding and determine what is significant. When we create genuinely shared understanding, we are more able to make insightful choices that are the will of the group.

The  Decisional Level
Processing insight about life involves projecting that insight out into the future. As we decide future implications for action, our reflection connects us to the world in ways that are real. We assume active responsibility for our situation. We make choices and commitments that shape our way of interacting with our situation. In groups, we make decisions and build consensus; so we can move forward together. Leave this out and you can count on nothing happening. Insights will not be integrated. Ideas will not become reality - never really born. Plans will rest on the shelf. Include it and create practical plans that will change the situation.

ToP calls this the "decisional" level, because it enables us to develop an appropriate conclusion to a given inquiry. Wen we make choices, we commit ourselves to a way forward.  It gives collaborative decision-making real power.