THE MANILA CARD CONVERSATION

Let’s collaborate and grow – together we can do more! In most professional areas today, we are encouraged to look beyond our own competency and expertise and explore the interdisciplinary field to build new professional relationships and rethink traditional work procedures. Cross-sectoral collaborations develop our practice, and we learn from each other’s ways of working and perspectives on what we do.

This experiment is promoting interesting and enriching cross-curricular conversations. It is about establishing a dynamic environment where participants from different professional fields get to know each other through present and reflective conversations.

Key words: reflect, be curious, wonder, ask questions and have a conversation.

Get your participants to spend a few minutes on reflecting on what makes them wonder – anything that comes to mind. Then everyone writes down their question on a manila card. Collect the cards, mix them in a ball and get the participants to pick a random card – not their own. Then they get together two and two and ask each other the questions on the cards. Give them at least 10 minutes to answer the questions and start a conversation.

Start a new round where the participants ask questions that relates specifically to the purpose of their encounter, e.g. collaboration, co-creation, developing shared solutions – something they would like to ask the other participants. Then they find a new conversation partner.

End up with a round where the participants ask themselves a question concerning their own practice, maybe something they would like to challenge, develop or change.