Dialogue, Week Three

Tomorrow is the beginning of the third (and last) week of my Winter Course, Dialogue. Having a course run four days a week for three weeks creates a very interesting learning experience. It's been a wonderful experience for this class, but I'm not sure I'd enjoy it for every topic.

The class has been very surprising, and I have no idea what to expect this week. I've facilitated and participated in a number of situations that promoted meaningful conversations, but nothing quite like this. This model has a very organic nature, letting participants take the conversation in any direction they want. The lack of structure allows topics to rise, grow and move one based on the members of the group.

I was expecting something more focused, more decision oriented. But I'm not disappointed. While this model won't directly help a group make simple decisions in an equitable and effective way (like effective meeting facilitation can), it could be incredibly powerful in many other situations.

I would love to have a regular weekly dialogue with a group of individuals working closely together for an extended period of time. I don't think it could replace an agenda focused staff meeting (with general updates, quick decisions and simple delegation), but it would be a great complement to staff meetings. Having regular dialogue could create an environment where the group can reflect on deeper issues and feelings, and really delve into meaty issues over an extended period of time.