A structured facilitation method to guide groups from raw data to clear decisions without getting stuck.
Why Structured Conversations Matter
You must have seen this serveral times: discussions lose focus and feedback becomes unclear in the life or workplace. Discussions go off track, and people jump between emotions, facts, and opinions, making it hard to reach a conclusion.
Without structure, feedback often feels unclear, and communication becomes confusing.
This is why tools like the ORID method are valuable — they provide a simple path to organize discussions and build stronger communication skills.
What is the ORID Method
ORID Focused Conversation Method was developed by the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA), a global organization dedicated to advancing social innovation through participatory methods.
It is a structured approach to group discussion or individual reflection, often used in facilitation, decision-making, and problem-solving contexts.
ORID stands for:
- Objective – Focus on facts and observations.
- Reflective – Explore emotions and reactions.
- Interpretive – Look at meaning and implications.
- Decisional – Decide what actions to take.
By moving step by step, the ORID method keeps conversations balanced, making feedback more constructive and supporting better workplace communication.
Breaking Down the Four Steps
Objective
This stage focuses on gathering facts and data.
Participants share observations, describe what they see or hear, and discuss the raw information without interpretation or judgment.
Questions might include:
"What did you notice?" or "What facts do we know?"
