Leading for Dialogue
The Leading for Dialog set consists of the following modules:
You are in the Leading through dialogue module
Leading through dialogue
The big idea: dialogue as a leadership capability
In times of transition and when the environment is unstable or hard to read, finding new ways of connecting and having conversations with very different networks of people is a vital process.
We need as many different perspectives on the situation as we can gather. We can no longer rely on our usual ways of thinking, on close colleagues or the power hierarchy to define who we talk to and how we talk to them. Traditional meeting
structures, which are effective in steady state can become a liability.
“Dialogic leadership” is the term William Isaacs uses for a way of leading that
consistently uncovers, through conversation, the hidden creative potential in any situation. Four distinct qualities support this process: the abilities
- to evoke people’s genuine voices
- to listen deeply
- to hold space for and respect as legitimate other people’s views
- to broaden awareness and perspective
Put differently, a dialogic leader is balanced, and evokes balance, because they can embody all four of these qualities and can activate them in others
William Isaacs: Dialogue: The art of thinking together
Leaders with the capability to work effectively in dialogue:
- bring people together in new spaces
- elicit disparate and conflicting views
- facilitate conversations of many different types.
They are able to demonstrate their ability to be influenced by others as much as their desire to influence.
As importantly, they also create new ways of connecting people across disciplines and departments to implement and deliver on projects together – instead of relying on pre-existing organisational structures or standing teams to make everything
happen.
Leading for dialogue
This 'Leading for Dialogue' set will help you develop your understanding about the practice that Isaacs calls 'dialogic leadership'. Regardless of your role, this will enhance your ability to bring all your work conversations into a more participative,
collaborative style, whether you are running a large workshop or simply catching up with a peer about something they need help on.
During this module, you will:
- learn about the theory and ideas that sit behind this important organisational idea
- practice new skills to improve your listening
- understand how an awareness of our conversational 'actions' can help us speak more effectively together
- have some ideas about how to 'hold a space' for dialogue in your own day-to-day work.
Continue to: Leading for dialogue
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