Horseshoe, a method used for exposing and discussing different views. This reviewing method is a variation of a technique that goes under many names including spectrum lineup, positions, diagonals, and silence statements. The main difference is that these other methods use straight lines, whereas the horseshoe is a curved line. In this method, you seem to define two ends of the spectrum and ask everyone to stand at a point on the curved line that represents their point of view. The benefit of the horseshoe shape is that everyone is more likely to be in eye contact with each other, which makes facilitating whole group discussion much easier. For example, one end represent we were a pretty good team during that exercise, while the other end represents we were a hopeless team during that exercise.

Sights, and everyone chooses their point on the line and then talks to one or two neighbors to check whether or not they need to adjust their own positions on the line. Once everyone is in position, you can encourage questions from participants to each other. Everyone should have a chance to explain their position, after which everyone should have a chance to move to show whether or not their views on the issue have changed. But what are the benefits? Well, you quickly discovered the range of opinions on an issue, you discover patterns and can identify what makes that group choose that particular spot. You also create a platform for group discussion in which participants naturally show an interest in each other's positions.

Besides all of this, you can bring rarely heard voices into group discussion, usually belonging to reflective people. As a variation, it may be helpful to ask different questions during the activity. For example, How would you each have rated this team before the exercise started? Or what was the quality of the teamwork, like up to the end of the initial planning? Or what is your personal prediction for the quality of teamwork in the next exercise, another variation, arrange chairs in a horseshoe, with the facilitator sitting in the gap, have about twice as many chairs as there are people to make movement easier and to allow for different patterns of clusters and spaces to develop. And another variation.

Well, this is a useful tool for discussing any issues that can be represented on a spectrum. So it can be used for exploring moral issues or company values, as well as reviewing group exercises. I've personally used this technique in a public speaking training, where I've asked people if they preferred more experiential games or more theory, you can get the responses. I've attached the document created by Roger that describes the method in detail, including sample questions and things to watch out for and solutions for them. I invite you to try this experience in newer trainings and to write your experience in the comments section. How did the participants react?

Did you use a variation of the technique invented a new way to use it? In the next video, I'm going to show you how this technique looks like in an actual training. So stay tuned. I wonder if you've ever asked a group to raise their hands if they agree with something that you said. Now horseshoe is a great alternative because it brings out chains of opinion. When I first came across this method, it was a straight line method where there was a spectrum and each person would choose their place to stand on the spectrum.

But this didn't allow for a good group discussion because you couldn't also each other's position on the spectrum. So what I did with this method was to bend the line around into almost a circle or horseshoe shape so that everyone could see everyone else. I also like to include the friendly neighbor process because that guarantees that everyone is participating right from the very beginning of the process. That's for sure.