Thinking Together:
Dialogue for Complex Conversations

One of the creative thinkers on dialogue, William Isaacs says,

"Dialogue, as I define it, is a conversation with a center, not sides. It is a way of taking the energy of our differences and channelling it toward something that has never been created before. It lifts us out of polarization and into a greater common sense, and is thereby a means for accessing the intelligence and coordinating power of groups of people."

Dialogue is not just about communication between two people, it is about "thinking together" and can involve any number of participants. Key elements to ensure constructive dialogue are:

• a setting that establishes equality between participants

• deliberate processes that encourage enquiry as the principle mode of engagement

• a commitment to explore assumptions behind opinions expressed and positions held

Ti Kouka Consulting offers experienced facilitators of dialogue and workshops in dialogue methods.

Possible uses for constructive dialogue include:

• building workplace collaboration

• creative stakeholder engagement

• working with contentious subjects

• community engagement

Contact Graeme Nicholas to discover the power of dialogue in your situation.