In this episode of the Professional and Employability Development Series, Gary Ryan introduces and explains the seven skills associated with the practice of dialogue.

1. Professional and Employability Development Series
The Seven Skills of Dialogue
Presented by Gary Ryan
Organisations That Matter®
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2. Conversation continuum
Dialogue
Skilful discussion
Polite discussion
Raw debate
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3. Debate
Dialogue
Skilful discussion
Polite discussion
Raw debate
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4. Polite discussion
Dialogue
Skilful discussion
Polite discussion
Raw debate
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5. Skilful discussion
Dialogue
Skilful discussion
Polite discussion
Raw debate
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6. Dialogue
Dialogue
Skilful discussion
Polite discussion
Raw debate
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7. The benefits of dialogue
A new understanding of
challenges, problems and Better decision making
issues can emerge
Individual and team The seven skills of dialogue
communication is enhanced can be practiced at any time
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8. The seven skills of dialogue
Deep
listening
Respecting
Reflecting
others
Balancing
advocacy & Inquiry
inquiry
Suspending
Voicing
assumptions &
openly
judgements
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9. Deep listening
Conscious choice to listen Deep Quietening the voice in our heads
listening
Respecting
Reflecting
others
Listen to understand Focus on understanding
the whole story the speaker
Balancing
advocacy & Inquiry
inquiry
It can occur anywhere, Suspending
Voicing
Listen both for what is said,
anytime assumptions & and what is
openly
judgements
‘between the lines’
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10. Respecting others
Deep You do not have to
"I disapprove of listening
agree with
what you say,
Reflecting
Respecting different views
but I will defend to others
the death your
right to say it.“ Voltaire
Balancing
advocacy & Inquiry
inquiry
Recognises that different
You will allow the time and
views are valid and
space for different views, Suspending
assumptions &
Voicing contribute to our
and seek to understand judgements
openly
understanding of the whole
them
10 www.orgsthatmatter.com © Organisations That Matter® 2007 - 2009

11. Inquiry
Deep Focuses upon open
The capacity to ask listening
questions
genuine questions
Respecting
Reflecting
others
Balancing
advocacy & Inquiry
inquiry
See “The Art of Skilful
Allows our mental models Questions” episode of this
Suspending
to ‘come to the surface’ assumptions &
Voicing series
openly
judgements
11 www.orgsthatmatter.com © Organisations That Matter® 2007 - 2009

12. Voicing openly
Deep The capacity to say
Also known as “Advocacy” listening
what you think AND
Reflecting
Respecting to explain why you
others
think what you think
Balancing
advocacy & Inquiry
inquiry
Generally, employers do
All views need to be heard
Suspending
Voicing
expect you to share what
assumptions &
judgements
openly your view is and why you
have it
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13. Suspending assumptions & judgements
Deep It’s like hanging our
Voicing lies at the heart of this skill listening
clothes out to dry –
Reflecting
Respecting everyone can see
others
them
Through allowing
others to question
our perspective, a Displays a
deeper Balancing willingness to be
advocacy & Inquiry
understanding of inquiry vulnerable
our view can
emerge ‘True’ learning
Suspending
Voicing
can occur when
assumptions &
judgements
openly we enhance our
perspective
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14. Balancing advocacy & inquiry
Deep ...asking genuine
Balances sharing our listening
view with... questions to better
Reflecting
Respecting understand another
others
person’s view
Balancing
advocacy & Inquiry
inquiry
Enhances a team’s
Creates high
collective
Suspending quality
understanding of a assumptions &
Voicing
judgements
openly conversations
topic
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15. Reflecting
Deep
Enables us to listening
Refer to ‘the Rocks
consciously assess
Respecting and the Jar” blog
our performance Reflecting
others
Balancing
advocacy & Inquiry
inquiry
See the “Conducting
Can be conducted as Suspending an end of meeting
Voicing
a ‘team reflection’ assumptions &
openly reflection” episode of
judgements
this series
15 www.orgsthatmatter.com © Organisations That Matter® 2007 - 2009

16. Summary
Deep
These skills can be listening
You do not ‘have’
practiced
Respecting to be in a dialogue
individually and/or Reflecting
others to practice these
collectively at any
skills
time
Your Balancing
communication advocacy & Inquiry
inquiry
will become more
effective even if When teams learn to
only you are Suspending dialogue together,
Voicing
practicing these assumptions &
openly their effectiveness can
judgements
skills improve exponentially
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17. Contact details
Gary Ryan
Gary.Ryan@orgsthatmatter.com
www.orgsthatmatter.com
www.studentsthatmatter.ning.com
Melbourne, Victoria 3000
AUSTRALIA
17 www.orgsthatmatter.com © Organisations That Matter® 2007 - 2009