Dialogue in Small Groups
Posted on October 18, 2020
The fifth and final Facet of Healthy Small Groups is Dialogue.
One of the deepest desires of every human is to know and be known, love and be loved by other people.
We achieve these powerful relational connections through dialogue.
Dialogue refers to a conversation between two or more people in which they exchange ideas, opinions and/or feelings on a particular topic or issue.
The goal of dialogue is to reach a shared understanding and hopefully a deeper level of clarity and relationship.
4 Communication Suggestions for Effective Dialogue:
- Ask good questions to define the conversational space.
- Listen carefully for both the other person's answers as well as their feeling.
- Respond by summarizing tentatively what was said or by asking clarifying follow-up questions.
- Encourage the group to tell stories to foster personal connections.
As the group engages in real dialogue with one another in deep and meaningful ways, they will begin to experience the transformational power of knowing and being known in caring and compassionate community.