Dialogue For Win/Win Outcomes Part 1

WHAT IS DIALOGUE?

Dialogue is creating a pool of shared understanding in an atmosphere of respect and goodwill in order to arrive at a mutually-beneficial outcome.

Dialogue is an alternative to the communication styles of dominating, accommodating, and avoiding.  It is communication that seeks to maximize both the dimensions of advocacy and empathy.

THE DIALOGUE MODEL

Let's look at a model of dialogue.  Dialogue consists of 4 skills:

1. We establish an atmosphere of unity, mutual respect, and goodwill through mutuality.
2. We then encourage others to disclose their point of view and/or inner experience through inquiry.
3. We disclose our own point of view or inner experience through advocacy.
4. We arrive at win/win outcomes through synergy.

The heart of dialogue is inquiry and advocacy which consists of sharing our point of view and listening to the point of view of others until we have created a pool of shared understanding.  Only when all the data is in the pool of shared understanding do we go to the step of synergy in which we make a decision or solve the problem.

Until next time...

 




Sheryl Tuchman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
http://tools2succeed.com/