Dialogue Process & Format
FutureNow’s Dialogue Process is a deeper form of communication for groups/teams. It shifts the norms of the group away from unproductive patterns (fighting, nursing old resentments, discussing everything but the problem, cycling through the same old grievances, agreeing to do things they have no intention of doing, etc.) to new norms of honest communication and shared responsibility. Each member of the group peels back rigid opinions to expose underlying assumptions. Once everyone feels like they are “in the same boat,” the group then assembles new assumptions and agreements that sustain collaborative action and facilitate communication down the line. The purpose of Dialogue is neither to agree nor to determine who is right. Rather, the purpose is to discover the richness of diverse perceptions that create a shared meaning that emerges from a group through inquiry and reflection.
FutureNow has created several tools to help facilitate the dialogue process:
- Dialogue Process Framework
- Dialogue Process Ground rules
- Dialogue Process Decision-Making Models
- Dialogue Process Problem Analysis Worksheet
