Dialogue
is a special kind of discourse using distinctive skills to achieve
two results:
Thought:mutual understanding
Feelings:
mutual trust and respect.
Facts
are a part of dialogue but so are values and emotions.When people speak from the heart and express their values,
strong feelings naturally arise.
Dialogue
is not:
Debate
and argument these are the opposite of dialogue.
Negotiation dialogues precedes it.
Decision-making
dialogue precedes it.
Deliberation
dialogue goes beyond thoughtful deliberation to incorporate
strongly held values and feelings.
Dialogue:
Seeks
common ground
Assumes
others have pieces of the answer
Incorporates
strongly held values and feelings
Admits
others thinking can improve ones own
Re-examines
all points of view
Highlights
your own assumptions for inspection and discussion
Is
collaborative
Searches
for strength and value in the other position
Discovers
new possibilities and opportunities
Listens
to understand and find a basis for agreement.
For
Dialogue to happen three conditions must exist:
There
are no distinctions of status and power among the people
involved
People
listen with an unusual degree of empathy
All
relevant assumptions are put on the table.
Adapted
from a presentation by Daniel Yankelovich, Founder and Chairman,
Viewpoint Learning Inc., a firm that advances dialogue-based
learning as a core skill in newer forms of leadership.