The Dialogue Project

An initiative to help us engage in more productive conversations.

Beautiful and happy Sunday to you!

We find ourselves already deep into the first month of this new year. Wow, time flies.

I mentioned a few times late last year that I was working on various projects. I want to share one of these with you and ask for your help.

Unsurprisingly, having crucial conversations is getting increasingly difficult in the current landscape. Whether with family and friends or in our organizations with co-workers, we engage in topics ranging from the best ways to raise our children, to politics, to what technology to use in our software product. These many conversations quickly become unproductive debates, affecting our ability to make change happen. That’s not even counting the social media platforms we visit that quickly become toxic environments where making sense of an issue is nearly impossible.

I’m sensing that many of us are recognizing the struggle and looking for new ways of relating to and approaching this issue.

This very real challenge inspired many writing pieces late last year. I am passionate about a more holistic, encompassing and integrated way of relating to these difficult conversations, honouring the various—often polarizing—worldviews so that we can begin to engage in productive dialogue to make change happen.

Here are a few examples:

• Contradictions

• The many truths of reality

• Facts, experience & social responsibility

• Honour today for a better tomorrow

• Leading from the inside

I’m working toward creating an offering in the form of a training, course, or group coaching program—the format is undecided—that would focus on helping us make sense of why conversations are so difficult and polarizing. It would aim to build the skills we need to support us in having crucial conversations in our organizations (as well as in the privacy of our own homes), leading to higher degrees of performance and understanding.

How can you help?

Initially, I’m looking for input from you—regardless of any role you do or don’t occupy— to understand better what you see as some of the most important issues regarding engaging in crucial conversations.

If this project speaks to you, please take 30 seconds to provide your contact info using this form, so I have the necessary information on how to reach you.

If you see value in this initiative but don’t have any time to contribute, you can still leave a positive comment below and/or like this post. It’s always great to see when an idea resonates.

Lastly, if it does resonate, please help spread the word by sharing this post or form with friends, family, and co-workers. I would be forever grateful.

Thank you; have a great Sunday and a wonderful week.

Miguel,
Sparknotion — Think Differently.