Thought-full Thursday: Dialogue
April 15th, 2010 | 
Author: Every Thursday, we provide you with a thoughtful way to coach yourself – something all leaders need to do. So take five – enjoy the inspirational quotes or and reflect on the questions that follow.
“Most of us believe at some level that we must fix things or change people in order to make them reachable. Dialogue does not call for such behavior. Rather, it asks us to listen for an already existing wholeness, and to create a new kind of association in which we listen deeply to all the views that people may express. It asks that we create a quality of listening and attention that can include – but is larger than – any single view.” ~William Isaacs, Dialogue and the Art of Thinking Together
- What would you start if you could be the catalyst for wholeness in your organization?
- Your followers are anxious to be heard. Are you listening?
- What might be created if all views were included in your organization?
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6 Responses to “Thought-full Thursday: Dialogue”
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Great thought Mary Jo – common perception is that dialogue/communication starts when you express what you have to say. In my view, listening is the starting point of good communication.
Having a genuine dialogue means being genuinely interested in what others have to say. These ‘others’ could be people in your team, your organization and your customers.
Well said.
Good thoughts. I’m reading The 3 Laws of Performance right now. The first law touches on this same issue. Thanks Mary Jo.
Thanks Tanmay and David.
David, I’m interested in seeing more about the book you mentioned, and will look it up. I love William Isaac’s book on Dialogue, and open it and review often.
Hi MJ, thoughtful quote and questions as it is usual every thursday! Dialogue truly is the foundation of all personal and working negotiations and relationships. It encourages participation from both parts: communicator and receiver (two way communication) where the receiver plays such a fundamental role into it as 99% of a healthy and positive relationship is through listening. So listen-up is certainly a little thing that makes a big difference as a leader. I love it MJ! Thank. Javier
Hi MJ, I guess deep inside we all wish to be heard. As a leader we sometimes unintentionally use our power to make the follower hear us. Forced hearing does not promote listening, and one-way communication is not a dialogue. No wonder we erroneously believe we need to change people to make them reachable. To reach other people, we need to learn to listen to them first. Thanks for the thought.
Hi Kevin, I have learned that “listening begets listening”, and you’ve stated that very well. Thanks for your comments.