Steve -- I may be risking castigation at the hands of authorities and
practitioners of novelty, but I suggest that the latest thinking on dialog
is probably not as pertinent or authoritative as is older thinking on
dialog. I also think that "rapid changing" and "dialog" are antithetical.
Strategic conversations (scenario thinking) are appropriate places for
dialog, sometimes. Remember, though, that dialog is a deliberate process.
It is the search for shared meaning. To remain adaptive, flexible and
sustainable in times of rapid change, it's very important that
organizations have already found shared meaning, values and talked about
ways to meet the changing environment. At the point of change, the time
for talking is past and it's time to act (with vigor, vision and purpose).
This is why it is difficult to practice dialog. It moves much more slowly
than those people who are conditioned to be action-oriented are willing to
move. As in nature, though, those rivers that run deepest also run
fastest when the conditions are right.
regards,
Doc
Steve Mommen wrote:
> I am currently researching the concept of dialogue for use as a management
> skill in rapidly changing environments. Can someone direct me to the
> latest thinking on this method?
>
> all comments are welcome.
-- "The spiritual gift on this inner journey is the knowledge that in chaos I can not only survive, but I can thrive, that there is vitality in that chaotic field of energy." -Parker J. PalmerThresholds--developing critical skills for living organizations Richard C. "Doc" Holloway Olympia, WA ICQ# 10849650 Please visit our new website, still at <http://www.thresholds.com/> <mailto:learnshops@thresholds.com>
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