Phase
A. Pass this sheet around, each
person reading one paragraph.
In
the Dialogue process "meaning" evolves collectively through mutual
understanding and acceptance of diverse points of view.
To
master the Dialogue process requires learning a variety of communication skills
including a tolerance of paradox (or opposing views), the suspension of
judgment and empathic listening. It also requires making the entire thought
process visible, including tacit assumptions. In this process, instead of
imposing our views on others, we invite others to add new dimensions to what we
are thinking. We also learn to listen to the voice of the heart--our own and
others--and strive to find ways to make that voice articulate.
The
purpose of Dialogue is neither to agree nor to determine who is right. Rather,
the purpose is to discover the richness of diverse perceptions that create a
shared meaning that emerges from a group through inquiry and reflection. The
meaning that evolves is dynamic as it moves through many diverse phases. If
others contradict, the challenge is to learn from what they have said.
The
origin of Dialogue goes back to the ancient Greeks. It is also found among
preliterate Europeans and Native Americans. More recently David Bohm, the
renowned physicist introduced the Dialogue process into the scientific quest
for knowledge and also used it to address social problems. Bohm said that
"when the roots of thought are observed, thought itself seems to change
for the better." Dialogue he said, "is a stream of meaning flowing
among and through and between us". Dialogue is now being used in schools,
corporations and government to develop rapport, resolve conflict and build
community.
Guidelines
for Dialogue
1. You don't have to agree. Listen with
the expectation of learning; that is, assume that the speaker has something new
and of value to contribute to your comprehension and then stretch your mind to
find out what that is.
2. None of us has the whole truth. Seek to
comprehend the many facets of meaning that emerge from the group. Appreciate
how the diversity of perceptions enriches the quality of the dialogue. In your
responses do not problem solve, argue, analyze, rescue, nit pick or give
advice. Rather, try to understand how the diverse views connect with each
other.
3. Pay attention to your listening. Listen
for the "voice of the heart" as well as the mind--yours and others'.
Tune into the language, rhythms and sounds. Listen as you would to hear the
themes played by various instruments in an orchestra and how they relate to
each other. That's what makes the music. In Dialogue, that's what makes the
collective meaning.
4. Free yourself up from a rigid mindset.
Stand back and respond, rather than reacting automatically or defensively.
Balance advocacy (making a statement) with inquiry (seeking clarifications and
understanding). In advocating do not impose your opinion, rather simply offer
it as such. In inquiry seek clarification and a deeper level of understanding,
not the exposure of weakness.
5. Communicate your reasoning process,
i.e. talk about your assumptions and how you arrived at what you believe. Seek
out the data on which assumptions are based, your own and others. Bring tacit
(hidden) assumptions to the surface of consciousness.
6. Suspend, rather than identify with,
your judgements. Hold these away from your core self, to be witnessed or
observed by yourself and made visible to others.
© Allyn Bradford
http://www.cct.umb.edu/tfcfb-TOC.html,
viewed 9/5/01; see also Isaacs, W. 1999. Dialogue. NY: Currency
Additional
Guidelines (Peter
Taylor)
Confidentiality
Don't
speak afterwards about what's said in the dialogue by attributing it to anyone,
even if you don't name the person.
Instead, simply talk about what you are thinking/inquiring about as a
result of having been in today's session.
If
you speak to anyone from this group about what they said, follow the same
genuine inquiry you practice here.
Turn
taking
Overriding
idea: Keep focused on listening
well. If you're thinking about
whether you'll get to talk next, you won't listen well. Ditto, if you're holding on tight to
what you want to say. So take a
numbered card when you feel that you'd like a turn, but keep listening. When
your turn comes, show your card, and pause. See if you have something to follow what's being said, even
if it's not the thought you had wanted to say. You can pass.
Another
idea: There's no need for
questions to be answered right away.
If the question relates directly to someone, they can pick it up when
they next take a turn. This
differs from usual conversations, but think of questions as inquiries that
you're putting into a shared space.
Final idea: Try to make the turn-taking administer itself so the facilitator can listen well and participate undistracted. When you finish speaking (or if you decide to pass), put your card on the stack of used cards so the person with the next card knows that they can begin. The facilitator's role becomes simply to recharge the unused stack of cards when needed and gently remind people to follow the guidelines.
Phase
B. Check-in
Go
around the circle with each person saying one thought that’s at the front
for you as we go into the session.
Phase
C. Turn-taking dialogue about the
topic at hand for the time available minus 5+ minutes
Phase
D. Check-out
Go
around the circle with each person saying one thought that you’re taking
away to chew on after this session.