Ldrs320

Topic 2:  What are the road blocks to successful dialogue

“I want to do what is good, but I don’t.  I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do is anyway.  The Bible, Roman 7:19, NLT.   No one sits down at a meeting and says, “I hope I say something inappropriate that causes others to be quiet and not give their opinions.”  We enter a meeting expecting the dialogue to go well, we can stay on the agenda, and everyone leaves satisfied.  That is what we hope.  But as much as we want that to happen, we often fail. 

The reason?  Charan calls these “Dialogue Killers”.   See pages 62, 63 under the box entitled Dialogue Killers. 

·  Dangling Dialogue:  Confusion prevails and the meeting ends without a clear next step.

· Information Clogs:  There is simply not enough information to make an informed decision.

· Piecemeal Perspectives:  Please hang on to their narrow views of self-interest.

· Free-for-All:  The leaders fails to direct the flow of the discussion so group members will get side tracked or try to force others to see their perspective.

Learning Activities

Activity 3.3:

DROP AND DRAG ACTIVITY

Define the following terms, dragging the key term to the correct definition.

Dangling Dialogue                                               Meeting ends without a clear next step

Remedy for Dangling Dialogue                          Give the meeting closure by making sure everyone knows what to do and by when it should be done

 

Information Clogs                                                An important piece of information is left out until after the decision is made

Remedy for Information Clogs                          Make sure the right people are attending. As the information is presented, discuss it with openness and candor with coaching as needed.                

 

Piecemeal Perspectives                                     People stick to narrow vies and self-interests

Remedy for Piecemeal Perspective                 Listen to all sides of the issue.  Repeat the common goal.  Give alternatives.  Provide coaching so everyone understands the goal

 

Free-for All                                                           The leaders allows negative behaviour to flourish     

Remedy for Free-For-All                                    The leader must use inner strength to focus on accepted behavior and coaching or sanctioning the unacceptable behavior.