In Workshop 1 we explained that we do two things before we decide what question to ask: 

• We model the client’s information from their perspective, and 
• We calibrate their response to our previous question. 

In Workshop 2 we will focus on the seldom-discussed, but hugely-important topic of calibration.

In Symbolic Modelling, ‘calibrating’ means noticing signs that indicate the client’s internal state, and also their relationship with their metaphors. We do not calibrate particular states, rather we notice indicators of broad categories of states and meta-comments. The signs we pay attention to depend on where we are in the process and we use these, together with our modelling of the client’s information, to select our next Clean Language question.

But how do we know our question will bear fruit for the client? We can’t know – but we do know that certain signs are indicators of potential. Noticing these signs is especially important early in a session – before any changes have happened. We look for signs that the client’s state is ‘preparing the ground’, ‘approaching something significant’, ‘surprised at what just happened’ or their metaphor landscape is, as David Grove used to say, ‘going psychoactive’ . 

Becoming an excellent clean facilitator using Symbolic Modelling means learning a new set of calibration skills.

Also, moment-by-moment calibrating whether the client is benefiting from the process – or not – is not just feedback about our effectiveness, it’s our way of knowing that we are facilitating the client in an ethical manner. 

This second online live workshop will be highly practical with real-life examples and opportunity for you to develop your skills.