WHAT IS DIALOGUE?

Quoted from:

http://www.viewpointlearning.com/about/dialogue.shtml

Dialogue is a special kind of discourse employing distinctive skills to achieve mutual understanding and mutual trust and respect.

Dialogue allows people to connect at a deeper level. Participants in dialogue report that the experience of dialogue yields specific benefits and results.

Dialogue:

• Dispels mistrust and creates a climate of good faith
• Breaks through negative stereotypes, revealing participants' common humanity
• Shifts the focus from transactions to relationships, creating community
• Makes participants more sympathetic to one another even when they disagree
• Prepares the ground for negotiation or decision-making on emotion-laden issues
• Helps bridge subcultures and clarify value conflicts
• Expands the number of people committed to the process
• Brings out the best rather than the worst in people

To explain dialogue we like to contrast it with debate, a more common form of discourse. The goal of debate is winning; the goal of dialogue is learning.

Dialogue is about learning:	Debate is about winning:
Assuming that others have pieces of the answer	Assuming that there is one right answer – and you have it
Collaborative: attempting to find common understanding	Combative: attempting to prove the other side wrong
About finding common ground	About winning
Listening to understand and find a basis for agreement	Listening to find flaws and make counter-arguments
Bringing up your assumptions for inspection and discussion	Defending your assumptions
Re-examining all points of view	Criticizing the other side's point of view
Admitting that others' thinking can improve your own	Defending your views against others
Searching for strengths and value in the other position	Searching for weaknesses and flaws in the other position
Discovering new possibilities and opportunities	Seeking an outcome that agrees with your position