Making Conversation: Seven Essential Elements of Meaningful Communication

Having productive conversations is difficult and most of us go into conversations with only one goal: Convincing everyone else we’re right and they’re wrong But this isn't a helpful stance if you want to have a productive conversation with someone 160 We sometimes feel that dialogue should be unconstrained it should feel authentic it should feel open and free But we often find ourselves in situations where the feeling of being open and unconstrained exists for only a few people in the conversation: the loudest the most eloquent those with the most sophisticated grasp of a topic 160 By approaching dialogue as a designer Fred Dust shows readers how to treat dialogue as something that you create something that you design not something that you facilitate or just participate in Designing the conversation will help readers spot an issue or opportunity in dialogue and design for it reshaping how it feels as well as the outcome Dust explains the act of design through the metaphor of a palette The colors in the palette include commitment Choosing the conversations that matter Establish Principles Make a Plan 160 Creative Listening Listen like you’re not Listen for what you like Ask For a story 160 Clarity Talk Normal Tell Stories About Words Name Names and 160 Context Purpose Pick the Space Edit and Add Take a Position Literally 160 These tools ensure that readers can have a new kind of conversation If we listen creatively and design our conversations we can unleash optimism and creativity in a place where we often feel most constrained We can take on global issues with Utopian energy we can cure deep wounds between individuals and in our communities but only if we choose to radically incorporate creativity into the conversation Read Less