Tag Archives: dialogue

(Issue #557) Agree to Disagree: A Conversational Fire Extinguisher?


“We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace.” ~Amanda Gorman  As I read Tom Nichols’ The Death of Expertise, I thought back to previous posts on this blog about conversations, dialogues, and resistance bubbles. Nichols asks us to consider how we … Continue reading

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(Issue #554) Active Listening: A Refresher


We move from collective monologues to authentic dialogues through active listening. While this blog has addressed civility often, given what is in our rearview mirror, a quick review is in order. The following is an excerpt from one of my … Continue reading

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(Issue #490) Calling for Deliberative Dialogues. 


Acknowledge common ground to build a more unified and proactive community. Every day we find ourselves bombarded by lots of talking.  When fortunate, we get to hear and engage in real conversations. Speaking, listening, questioning, listening, responding, questioning, listening, and … Continue reading

Posted in accountability, Civility, collaboration, collective monolgues, Community, community development, confirmation bias, consideration, conversation, Critical Thinking, emotional intelligence, Gratitude, growth, habits, Mindfulness, mindset, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

(Issue #477) Call-Out Culture: Increasing Understanding or Volume?


If you have to name-call, then you have no argument; you have admitted your lack of understanding and/or inability to intelligently debate the issue at hand. One of the byproducts of social media has been the legitimization of a call-out … Continue reading

Posted in call-out culture, Civility, collaboration, Communication, Community | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

(#444) Mouths and Ears


Discourse. Dialogue. Debate. Diminished? In an interview with Bill Moyers, writer and political analyst Sam Tanenhaus addressed the challenge with current-day discourse or dialogue or debate. The people around the table “have many mouths but they don’t have many ears… … Continue reading

Posted in Appreciation, Appropriate Behavior, awareness, boundaries and limits, Civility, collaboration, collective monolgues, Communication, Community, conversation, ethics, growth | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#442) Community Building: Beyond Why to How


The question, in my mind, moves beyond why we need community to how we go about building and sustaining it. While dichotomies can be simplistic, they can also help frame a conversation. When you seek a community, toward which end … Continue reading

Posted in acceptance, accountability, action, amplifying, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, change management, Communication, Community, community development, confirmation bias, Critical Thinking, leadership | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#418) Helping A Village Find Its Voice


Listen and respect one another. Find your voice. Use your voice. Pursue your rainbows.  We have heard that the village raises up a child.  What do we do, however, if the village has inadequate infrastructure, health disparities, high crime and poverty, … Continue reading

Posted in acceptance, accountability, action, Appropriate Behavior, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, Balance, change, Choice, Civility, collaboration, conversation, core values, creating your future, Dreams, empathy, information literacy, Integrity, leadership, Relationship, relevance, resilience, vulnerability, wellbeing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

(#388) Connectors. Dividers. Adopters. Resistors.


We have to know who “gets it, wants it, and has the capacity for it.” A community has many attributes. For me, it’s hard to conceive of a community without unity. You cannot spell community without unity. A community represents … Continue reading

Posted in amplifying, assumptions, awareness, change management, coaching, collaboration, collegiality, Goals, Haters, influence, resilience, Stress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment