Fostering Dialogue Across Divides

This publication offers the fruit of 17 years of work by the Public Conversations Project towards dialogue design and facilitation. Although this guide is intended as a resource for anyone who is thinking about convening or planning a dialogue, PCP has written it as if the reader is a potential facilitator. And although it is intended for both experienced practitioners and beginners, they have written it as though the reader is not very experienced.

Chapter 1 focuses on dialogue: why it's needed, how it is defined in PCP's work, and what draws people to participate in dialogues of the type that PCP facilitates.

Chapter 2 describes PCP's general approach and core practices. It presents their ways of thinking - some of which are rooted in family systems theory - and the practices that arise out of those ways of thinking. It gives examples of communication agreements, dialogue structures, and collaborative approaches to preparation.

Chapter 3 addresses questions that PCP thinks must be answered early in the planning process. These questions include: Are the conditions right for dialogue? What are the needs, hopes, and resources of the people involved in the community, organisation, or situation? What role can or should you and others play? What, if anything, should be offered? To whom?

Chapter 4 focuses on the design of the dialogue session. It opens with general advice and then offers specific advice about designing single session, multi-session, and large group dialogues, as well as dialogues that utilise a common stimulus or shared experience like a reading, panel, or video.

Chapter 5 is about readiness. As you help participants prepare for the dialogue, you also need to think about how you can prepare yourself to play your role effectively. This chapter addresses questions about your emotional readiness as well as questions about team building with a co-facilitator (if you have one) and final preparations. It includes two checklists, one for supplies and one for the many decisions you will need to make before the meeting.

Chapter 6 focuses on facilitation, i.e., what you will do during the dialogue to support participants in having the kind of conversation they have said they want to have. It offers general advice about your role and specific advice about addressing common challenges. It also offers guidance on time management and suggestions for working with multi-session groups in a manner that is highly responsive to their emerging needs and interests.

Appendix A presents three sample formats and one sample exercise that you can customise for your work with a particular group and topic.

Appendix B presents several sample questions, some by type, some by topic.

Appendix C presents sample invitations, handouts, and other resources.

Appendix D presents a list of the 120 questions addressed in Q&A format in Chapters 3 throug 6, to help the reader quickly locate the guidance that is most relevant for their situation.