How should we communicate in a world where differences in perspective, experience, job function, culture, gender, age, and a myriad of other factors often lead to distrust, misunderstanding and reduced productivity? We can all benefit from learning the tools of dialogue - how to communicate across differences in a way that is both respectful and effective. Dialogue is how you communicate when you're having trouble communicating.

Through a series of short dramatizations this unique series explores the rules and techniques that distinguish a Dialogue from other forms of communication, such as debate or negotiation. The series examines how we can surface the often unspoken assumptions, in ourselves and in others, that can stand in the way of effective organizational communication. In so doing we build mutual trust and respect.

Each program in the series can stand alone and may be licensed separately.
Series Objectives

Dialogue - Now You're Talking!, consists of four video-based training programs that explore the Six Basic Rules of Dialogue and provide practical examples and training exercises aimed at helping to implement Dialogue in your organization.

Program Contents:

• Video 1. Communicating in a Diverse World. (25 minutes)
  Overview:
  What is dialogue - contrasting debate and dialogue.
  Initiating Dialogue - how to do it, where to do it.
  The skills of Dialogue - Suspension (of judgment, decision making and status)
  Listening (with empathy, for understanding, showing you care)
  Discovery (uncovering and sharing hidden assumptions in yourself and others).
  Includes a dramatization of how Dialogue helps us communicate across job functions, helping improve relations between people at different levels within the organization as well as between different departments or areas of expertise.
  

• Video 2. Dialogue for Cultural Understanding. (24 minutes)
  We apply the skills of dialogue outlined in Program 1 to challenges faced in culturally diverse work environments. We see a dramatization that demonstrates how dialogue can be used to open communication, uncover hidden assumptions, break down stereotypes and facilitate more productive relationships.

• Video 3. Dialogue between Genders. (21 minutes)
  A dramatized dialogue shows us how the skills we learned in Program 1 can be used to overcome misunderstandings, break down gender stereotypes and improve communications between men and women at work.
  

• Video 4. Dialogue among Generations. (24 minutes)
  We demonstrate how the skills of dialogue can be used to bridge the personal and professional style differences that exist between employees of different ages. We uncover how divergent personal and world views common to people of different generations can lead to misunderstandings and distrust and how dialogue can help overcome age barriers and build more productive workplace relationships.
  

• Pre-Screening Exercise:
  The initial exercise is designed to let group members experience the distinction between DIALOGUE and debate. Before viewing the video, you will designate 3 participants who will engage in a brief discussion of a relevant topic. The group will analyze what happened in the discussion, whether anyone’s opinions changed in the course of the interaction, whether people were respectful in their communication, if people tended to defend positions or look for common ground, how the participants felt in the course of the discussion, etc. We revisit this exercise later in the training.

• Group Discussion Questions:
  Questions are presented for each of the 4 programs in the series. In addition to the questions (which also come on a handout and PowerPoint slide), the facilitator gets notes on suggested responses and specific handouts to reference when discussing a question.
  
  There are also group discussions of the differences between dialogue and debate, of the Six Basic Rules of Dialogue, and of the use of electronic communications at work and how they might (or might not) be effective when trying to carry on a dialogue.

• Group Exercises:
  The guide also offers a number of exercises that help participants practice overcoming obstacles to holding a dialogue, listening with empathy, asking clarifying questions, and suspending decision-making. These can be part of the training with any (or all) of the 4 video programs in the series.

• Closing Exercise:
  We conclude the training by having everyone in the group participate in a real dialogue, and analyze how well they’re doing at following the Six Basic Rules of Dialogue. Participants are also encouraged to practice dialogue in their personal and professional lives, and follow-up homework and reinforcement sessions are recommended.