‘The future has already arrived. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.’ ─ William Gibson



5 – 0: Pre Test

PERMIT Story Review

Instructions: Choose the letter of the most correct answer.

1. PERMIT is primarily used to:
A. Control the conversation by asking specific questions
B. Encourage someone to share their story or narrative
C. Quickly get to a decision or action step
D. Limit the amount of talking in a conversation

2. PERMIT differs from PROBE because it:
A. Seeks to define a specific answer
B. Opens space for storytelling rather than analyzing details
C. Focuses on confirming information instead of exploring
D. Leads the person to a pre-determined solution

3. A key characteristic of PERMIT is:
A. It requires detailed questions to guide the story
B. It helps introverts and people who need space to share
C. It avoids emotion and focuses only on facts
D. It forces the person to talk even if they don’t want to

4. PERMIT should be used:
A. When someone is trying to make sense of their experience
B. To correct someone’s interpretation of their story
C. When a person is being too talkative
D. Only in professional coaching settings

5. A good example of a PERMIT cue is:
A. “What’s the solution?”
B. “Is there more?”
C. “What’s the answer?”
D. “Why aren’t you acting yet?”

Answer Key to Pre-test



5 – 1: Q&A IN



View | Watch the video 5 min:

5 – 2: CONTENT

SCRIPT: PERMIT

Permit Story

Welcome!



Today, we’re focusing on PERMIT Story, one of the seven core skills in Dynamic Inquiry System Skills (DISS).

PERMIT is about encouraging and allowing someone to share their narrative or story. It’s not about forcing a conversation — it’s about creating space for meaning and insight to emerge.

Let’s explore how PERMIT Story works.



WHO can use PERMIT?

PERMIT is for anyone in a helping role — coaches, leaders, educators, professionals, and even our personal conversations.

It’s particularly powerful in situations where someone wants to share, but just needs a small verbal or non-verbal cue to feel encouraged.

Examples:
– “Is there more?”
– “Would you like to add something?”

One-word cues we call “one-ders” work just as well:
– “…and?”
– “…so?”

A simple pause and an inviting tone can be all it takes to open the door to storytelling.



WHAT is PERMIT Story?

PERMIT allows people to express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a way that helps them process their own journey.

This skill is especially important for introverts who may hesitate to speak — need permission — or for those who need space to vent their emotions.

However, be mindful — while storytelling is valuable, it’s easy to lose focus in excessive detail, sidetracks or recycled thoughts and feelings.

Examples:
– “Is there something important to say?”
– “Can you say how you (think or feel) you got here?”

By cuing the narrative simply, you help the conversation or interaction remain meaningful and relevant.



WHEN is PERMIT Best?

PERMIT is most effective when someone is seeking to make sense of their experiences.

Storytelling helps people reveal patterns, meaning, and their approach to problem-solving. It also provides insight into why certain challenges keep appearing and whether pCc (potential, capacity, capability) can unlock or dissolve them.

Examples:
– “Does that happen often?”
– “Is this something that repeats?”

By recognizing patterns, a person may begin to see new solutions or perspectives.



WHERE is PERMIT ideal?

PERMIT is useful in any environment where the narrative revealing understanding is needed. It helps bring pieces of a story together, revealing how things became the way they are and providing clues for problem-solving… or in trying on a new problem solving approach.

Examples:
– “Have you talked with others about this?”
– “…So?” or “…And?”

Storytelling often helps connect the dots in ways logic alone cannot.



WHY use PERMIT?

A story is like the color that fills in the spacetime of a person’s world.

By listening to their narrative, you gain clues about their next right thing and steps they might take or think about to lead them forward… generatively.

Examples:
– “If you can’t solve this…?”
– “Is this all there is?”

Sometimes, simply telling the story helps the person find their own solution. Remember extroverts extroverting think out loud. Be careful to show patience with introverts and people who want to guard and protect personal information — you don’t need to push… pull is always better.



HOW does PERMIT work?

By allowing a story to unfold naturally, the context becomes clearer, and a match between pCc and CCR or (Culture, Conditions and Requirements) to generate RightACTION may be revealed.

As trust increases, deeper OPPOR+UNITY for meaningful and generative work emerges.



For reference… RightACTION at LeadU is defined as:

The right people, doing the right things, with the right skills, in the right ways, in the right spacetime, at the right pace, for the right reasons, to get the right results — fostering Wellth (wellbeing without sacrificing meaning and well-being in a proverbial rat race)… to help people lead generative lives.



PERMIT allows us to keep our sphere of influence smaller until it’s time to expand and truly lead.



Closing:

Remember…

PERMIT creates space for storytelling.

PERMIT allows meaning to emerge naturally.

PERMIT may help uncover patterns that lead to the next right thing.

++Permit shouldn’t be used because you have been listening to your own thoughts and have missed where the person being helped is…!++

As you move forward, practice PERMIT by noticing when someone wants to share — and give them just enough of a cue… space to do so.

Meet people where they are!

Thanks for listening — now go practice PERMIT and see what stories emerge!



Copyright Leadership University



More info @LeadU.com/news



5 – 3: APPLICATION

As noted in our application section in the previous skills applications here’s a summary of all the inquiry used in the application.

This is designed to help you understand how THE DISS is emergent from a network of skills and the Teachable Points of View or TPOVs you will learn over time.

100823: 7+ min Total Time
10 inquiries + greet &
 close?

PART 1 of 3



PH: Hey, XXXX.



PH: Anything going on today?



PBH: Is it important to you?



PH: Anything you’d like to say about it?



PH: (Name), what’s important?



PH: Who’s in the conversation?



PH: …So?



PART 2 of 3



PH: Is there anything that you’re afraid of?

PART 3 of 3



PH: Have you thought of a next step?



PH: (Name), is there a question that I need to ask you?



PH: Do you need some help with your plan?



PH: Well, I sure wish you good luck.

[0:07:12] End of Audio



5 – 4: Q&A OUT

++Permit shouldn’t be used because you have been listening to your own thoughts and have missed where the person being helped is…!++



“…when love and duty are one, then grace is within you.” – W. Somerset Maugham



5 – 5: Post Test

PERMIT Story Review

Instructions: Choose the letter of the most correct answer.

1. PERMIT is most useful when:
A. A person needs encouragement to share their story
B. You need to take control of the conversation
C. The conversation should move quickly toward action
D. Someone is unwilling to talk

2. Why is it important to use PERMIT before moving to action?
A. It ensures the person’s emotions are controlled
B. It allows meaning and context to emerge before making a decision
C. It prevents people from overthinking
D. It leads directly to a final answer

3. Which of the following best describes the purpose of PERMIT?
A. To uncover deeper insights by allowing storytelling
B. To make sure the conversation stays structured
C. To quickly summarize what’s important
D. To gather only the most relevant details

4. What is a key risk of not using PERMIT?
A. The conversation moves forward too slowly
B. Important insights might be missed because the person didn’t feel encouraged to share
C. The conversation becomes too emotional
D. The person might share too much unnecessary information

5. A core principle of PERMIT is:
A. Creating space for storytelling to unfold naturally
B. Asking only yes/no questions
C. Pushing people to talk about difficult experiences
D. Keeping the conversation highly structured

Answer Key to Post-Test



5 – Reference



Answer Key to Pre-Test
1. B – Encourage someone to share their story or narrative
2. B – Opens space for storytelling rather than analyzing details
3. B – It helps introverts and people who need space to share
4. A – When someone is trying to make sense of their experience
5. B – “Is there more?”

Back to Pre-Test



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Our team at Living &Loving Inquiry

Mike R Jay & Gary Gile
Founders @ The NEW LeadU

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