Phase
A. Pass this sheet around, each
person reading one paragraph.
The
Dialogue Process is an opportunity to listen—not only to the thinking of
others, but also to our own thoughts and feelings that had been below the
surface of our attention.
When
a group does this together over a period of time, "meaning" emerges
and evolves collectively through mutual understanding and acceptance of diverse
points of view. In this short
session, however, we cannot expect this to be the dominant experience.
The
Dialogue Process works well when participants tolerate paradox and opposing
views, suspend judgment and listen empathetically, and try to make their entire
thought process visible, including tacit assumptions. Instead of imposing our
views on others, we invite others to add new dimensions to what we are
thinking, and strive to find ways to make un(der)expressed voices articulate.
In
this spirit, 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.
The
Dialogue Process requires structured turn-taking. The overriding idea is to 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.
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.
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.
Try
to make 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 gently remind people to follow the
guidelines.
Phase
B. Check-in
Go
around the circle with each person saying one thought thatÕs at the front for
you before we go into the session proper.
This need not be about the topic of the session.
[Stop
passing the sheet around at this point, and take turns in checking-in.]
* * * * *
Facilitator
reminds participants of the topic, then we move to
Phase
C. Turn-taking dialogue about the
topic for the time available minus 5+ minutes.
* * * * *
We
keep the last 8+ minutes for
Phase
D [added 2/11]. Writing to gather thoughts that have emerged.
Two-three
minutes for each of us to write.
Phase
E. Check-out
Go
around the circle with each person saying one thought that youÕre taking away
to chew on after this session.
(Peter Taylor, borrowing from Allyn
Bradford, http://www.cct.umb.edu/tfcfb-TOC.html, viewed 9/5/01; see also
Isaacs, W. 1999. Dialogue. NY: Currency)