What is Dialogue?

The concept of dialogue can be characterised as follows: The free and creative exploration of complex and subtle issues Deep listening Suspending of one's own views and communicating assumptions freely The purpose of dialogue is to go beyond any one individual's understanding. To allow the group to access a 'pool of common meaning'. This means that we make 'hot topics' discussable and thus they become windows to deeper insights. This implies we have to practice the art of holding a position or point of view gently, rather than being 'held by our own positions'.

We have discovered that there are a number of conditions for successful dialogue:

• Slow down the discussion using silence
• Minimise 'cross talk' and discussion. Let all participants speak from their heart and put their truth in the middle of the group
• Ensure confidentiality
• Enhance trust and the willingness to regard each other as human beings, not adversaries, not as people with more or less power.
• Make use of facilitators who 'hold the context' of dialogue and help the participants to maintain ownership of the process and the outcomes.