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Cool Practice Review: Dialogue Exercise

October 28, 2010 by Guest Author

Todd Hoskins chooses and uses tools, products, and practices that could belong in an entrepreneurial business toolkit. He’ll be checking out how useful they are to folks in a business environment.

Cool Practice Review: Dialogue Exercise
A Review by Todd Hoskins

Credit: I learned the structure of this exercise from Leilani Henry who runs a great business that creatively helps organizations learn, develop, and collaborate.  She’s also quite the artisan.

A clear agenda and good leadership usually makes for a good business meeting. But sometimes, spending time exploring possibilities and perspectives is valuable for creating strategy, nurturing the connectedness of the team, and getting a break from the task-heavy day that can drain and dry up our creative wells.

This exercise in dialogue, based upon the work of David Bohm, is a wonderful practice that can be used in team meetings, executive retreats, or even board meetings.

First, sit in a circle so each person can see one another. This works best for a group (not a few people on a couch), and the intimacy would be lost if you have more than a few dozen people.

The group leader asks a question. The person to the left or right will respond to the initial question, then ask a follow-up question to the person to his/her left or right. Move around the circle until you’re back at the beginning. Time limits can be suggested or enforced.

Guidelines
1. No question “answering.” The temptation will be strong to give an answer. Instead . . .
2. Ask open-ended questions – nothing that can receive a simple yes or no
3. Share your stream of thoughts in response to the question being posed to you. This may begin with “That makes me think of . . .” Or, “I’m wondering . . .”
4. Do not try to “stay on topic.” You will not escape the direction of the first (or tenth) question. The suggestiveness of the initial question is important
5. No judgments on the questions or responses being offered
6. No decisions are made during the dialogue – it’s a process for its own sake

Outcomes
1. At the end of the exercise, you will likely have a pool of meaning in the midst of the circle.
2. The questions and responses can give you a new perspective on issues, possibilities, and people within the circle

Suggestions
1. Have one or a few people write down key words and phrases as they surface
2. Take a break, then at a later time ask, “What could we learn from this?”

Some possible questions:
What will our company look like in five years?
Why are we not meeting expectations?
How do we make decisions?
How do creativity and work go together?
How could we be more involved in the community?

Again, NO ANSWERING!

Summing Up – Is it worth it?

Enterprise Value: 5/5 – Pushes people out of their comfort zones a bit, but in a good way

Entrepreneur Value: 5/5 – Great team-building

Personal Value: 2/5 – Family reunion fun? The principles apply. Adapt it for your personal relationships.

Let me know what you think!

Todd Hoskins helps small and medium sized businesses plan for the future, and execute in the present. With a background in sales, marketing, leadership, psychology, coaching, and technology, he works with executives to help create thriving individuals and organizations through developing and clarifying values, strategies, and tactics. You can learn more at VisualCV, or contact him on Twitter.

Filed Under: Tools Tagged With: bc, David Bohm, dialogue, exercise, practice, Todd Hoskins

The Mic Is On: It's a Virtual Cookout Tonight!

August 11, 2009 by Liz


It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

The Mic Is On

Here’s how it works.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

Bring Whatever You Like to Eat!

Let’s get some friends and enjoy the evening in the backyard. Let’s forget about bosses and mentors, outsourcing, or hiring a virtual assistant. We can talk about mosquitoes, and the fire burning, and maybe tell a story or two. Just like when we used to have time to do things like that …

Remember when?

Let’s bring it back for the heck of it!

172385_cookout_1

image: sxc.hu

And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)

Oh, and bring links of your favorite CookOut things to share!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Filed Under: SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blog-promotion, dialogue, letting-off-steam, living-social-media, Open-Comment-Night

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: We're Having a Virtual Cookout Tonight!

August 11, 2009 by Liz

Join Us Tonight

Bring Whatever You Like to Eat!

Let’s get some friends and enjoy the evening in the backyard. Let’s forget about bosses and mentors, outsourcing, or hiring a virtual assistant. We can talk about mosquitoes, and the fire burning, and maybe tell a story or two. Just like when we used to have time to do things like that …

Remember when?

Let’s bring it back for the heck of it!

Oh, and bring cookout links to share —

The rules are simple — be nice.

Do be nice. 🙂

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Filed Under: SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blor promotion, dialogue, letting-off-steam, living-social-media, Open-Comment-Night

Open Mic Tonight 7pm Chgo Time: We're Going Bowling Wearing Crocs!

July 14, 2009 by Liz

Join Us Tonight

JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7PM

No Need to Bring Your Bowling Shoes!

Today is a double invitation. We’re going bowling in the comment box tonight … We’ll be talking about everything that goes with 21st century bowling, great music, bags, shoes, and t-shirts, the great people who show up, and how unpredictable it all is.

And we’ll be talking with

George Smith of Crocs

George knows a thing or two about shoes and t-shirts.

We’ll be bowling again at

BowlHer
a fabulous event by Collective Bias
at
Lucky Strike Lanes on Saturday, July 25th

Sign up here to attend.

Check out the swag Bag for the BowlHer event in Chicago!

Join us tonight to go bowling. 🙂

Oh, and bring links with pix that might remind us your bowling experiences.

The rules are simple — be nice.

Do be nice. 🙂

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Filed Under: SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blog-promotion, dialogue, living-social-media, Open-Comment-Night

The Mic Is On: We're Talking Online and Offline Cultures

July 7, 2009 by Liz

It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

The Mic Is On

Here’s how it works.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

It’s Not a Another Life …

When go to another country, when we talk on the telephone, we don’t say that we’re not in real life. But somehow we’ve started thinking that because we’re using our minds to connect online, we’re not in the real world. It’s a different culture with different rules that’s all.

  • How does trust work differently in different cultures?
  • How is coming online like going to another country?
  • How do you figure out who’s good and who is not in different cultures?
  • What makes relationships faster online?
  • What makes relationships misfire in person, on the phone, and on the Internet?
1045178_strange_world

And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)

Oh, and bring example links.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
image: sxc.hu
Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Filed Under: SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blog-promotion, dialogue, living-social-media, Open-Comment-Night

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: Comparing Online and Offline Culture

July 7, 2009 by Liz

Join Us Tonight

JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7PM

It’s Not a Another Life …

When go to another country, when we talk on the telephone, we don’t say that we’re not in real life. But somehow we’ve started thinking that because we’re using our minds to connect online, we’re not in the real world. It’s a different culture with different rules that’s all.

Join us tonight to talk about it. 🙂

Oh, and bring example links that explain your thoughts. .

The rules are simple — be nice.

Do be nice. 🙂

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Filed Under: SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blog-promotion, dialogue, living-social-media, Open-Comment-Night

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