What
is Dialogue?
Dialogue is one of the rich
tools available to us on the path to conscious relationship
and transformative leadership.
Dialogue is for the purpose
of deep listening and understanding. Its sole purpose is
inquiry and learning. Dialogue is a process that enables
people from all walks of life to talk deeply and personally
about some of the major issues and realities that divide
them. Dialogues are powerful, transformational experiences
that often lead to both personal and collaborative action.
Dialogue is often deliberative, involving the weighing of
various options and the consideration of different viewpoints
for the purpose of reaching agreement on action steps or
policy decisions.
"Genuine listening means suspending memory, desire
and judgment--and, for a moment at least, existing for
the other person."
Michael P. Nichols
"People are leading dialogues across the country
in schools, in churches, in workplaces, and in virtually
every other venue imaginable. They are encouraging people
to engage in dialogue about issues ranging from race relations
in their communities and violence in their schools to
how to handle the buildup of nuclear waste or the rapid
rate of development in their region. People are organizing
dialogues in order to resolve conflicts, to increase citizen
participation in governmental decisions, to educate, to
help people build self-awareness, to improve communication
skills, to strengthen teams or build coalitions, to stimulate
innovation and to foster effective community change."
Excerpt from Dialogue and Deliberation.
'Within the field of management and the social sciences,
renewed interest in collective or organizational learning
through dialogue is often connected to the work of Peter
Senge (1990). He makes a distinction between forms of
discourse and describes the special properties and limitations
of dialogue in contrast to "discussion."
"In a discussion, decisions are made. In a dialogue,
complex issues are explored. When a team must reach agreement
and decisions must be taken, some discussion is needed."
When they are productive, discussions converge on a conclusion
or course of action. On the other hand, dialogues are
diverging; they do not seek agreement, but a richer grasp
of complex issues. ... The ground rules are different.
The goals are different. Failing to distinguish them,
teams usually have neither dialogue nor productive discussions.
A unique relationship develops among team members who
enter dialogue regularly. They develop a deep trust that
cannot help but carry over to discussions'.
Jerry M. Calton, University
of Hawaii-Hilo
Read The Awakening , prologue
to Embracing Ourselves; the Voice Dialogue Manual, by Drs.
Hal and Sidra Stone here.
Heinrich Zimmer tells this story (of the awakening tiger)
in the opening of his book, The Philosophy of India,
and calls the young tiger's roar the "roar of awaking." What
is this "roar of awakening?" It is the discovery that we are
more than we think we are. It is the discovery that we have
taken on identities that incorrectly or inadequately express
our essential being. It is as though we have been dreaming
and suddenly we awaken from the dream, look around, and become
aware of a totally different reality.
For information on how to integrate Dialogue into addressing
your organizational or leadership challenges, contact us
here.
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