THE LAB / THE UNSAID PROCESS
The Unsaid Process
A process for moving from what is difficult to name towards shared understanding and considered action.
The Unsaid Process is a facilitation sequence that helps a group pay attention to what is present, make room for what sits beneath the obvious and decide what to do with what emerges. It is not a script and does not assume every silence should be broken.
01
Notice
Pay attention to what is present in the room and around the issue.
02
Surface
Bring patterns, assumptions and different experiences into view.
03
Name
Find language for what has been difficult to express.
04
Hold
Stay with complexity without forcing agreement or quick resolution.
05
Understand
Explore meaning, context and the different perspectives present.
06
Integrate
Connect what has been understood to choices, commitments and action.
What the process is for.
The aim is to turn hidden pressure into shared understanding and action. The process can support leadership dialogue, team conversations, culture work and experiential learning. The sequence may move back and forth depending on the group and the context.
What it is not.
It is not a diagnostic instrument, a promise of consensus or a technique for extracting disclosure. The facilitator’s role is to create a thoughtful container, protect choice and help the group work with what it is ready to explore.