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Pausing Pausing before responding or asking
a question allows time for thinking and enhances dialogue, discussion and
decison-making.
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Paraphrasing Using a paraphrase starter that
is comfortable for you: "So..." or "As you are...", or "You're thinking..."
and following the starter with a paraphrase assists members of the group
to hear and understand each other as they formulate decisions. A
paraphrase sends three messages:
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I hear you
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I understand you
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I care
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Probing for specificity Using gentle open ended
probes or inquiries such as "Please say more..." or "I'm curious about..."
or "I'd like to hear more about..." or "Then, are you saying
?" increases the clarity and precision of the group's thinking.
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Putting ideas on the table Ideas are the
heart of a meaningful dialogue. Label the intention of your comments.
For example, you might say, "Here is one idea..." or, "One thought I have
is..." or, "Here is a possible approach..."
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Paying attention to self and others Meaningful
dialogue is facilitated when each group member is conscious of self and
of others and is aware of not only what she/he is saying but how it is
said and how others are responding. This includes paying attention
to learning style when planning for, facilitating, and participating in
group meetings. Responding to others in their own language forms
is one manifestation of this norm.
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Presuming positive intentions Assuming that
other's intentions are positive promotes and facilitates meaningful dialogue
and eliminates unintentional put-downs. Using positive presuppositions
in your speech is one manifestation of this norm.
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Pursuing a balance between advocacy and inquiry
Pursuing and maintaining a balance between advocating a position and inquiring
about one's own and other's positions assists the group to become a learning
organization.
From William Baker, Group Dynamics Associates, 720 Grizzly
Peak Blvd., Berkeley, CA 94708. |