Together we are responsible for the quality of the conversation.
By “dialogue” we mean the kinds of conversations that change something in us when we take part in them, and that shift something between the people who are involved in the conversation.
Dialogues invite us to take the “risk” of being authentic and to co-create a space where others can do the same.
Dialogues are about challenging our habits of thought and conversation: listening with attention, speaking with intention and daring to turn the camera around to face ourselves and the roles we might have within the systems we are trying to change.
The Dialogue Space is where we try to learn and understand not through facts or intellectual knowledge, but through seeing another perspective through the eyes and story of someone else, and through getting a new sense of the broader ecosystem that the discussed issue is part of.
4 basic principles for meaningful and impactful dialogues.
- speak with intention
- listen to learn
- be aware of your impact
- practice grace
By fostering respectful, creative dialogue, we not only facilitate co-learning and innovative solutions, but also cultivate strong relationships that sustain our work through time and adversity.
These practices contribute to healthy teams and a thriving organizational culture. While the underlying principles may appear straightforward, consistently embodying them requires intentional effort and ongoing practice, especially when navigating diverse perspectives, complex issues, established patterns, and conflict.
What it looks like in my practice:
- sharing the dialogue principles with a new group of people I am hosting for the first time
- posting them on a sticky note next at my desk as a helpful reminder during online meetings
