Issue-Based Dialogue Resources

The Dialogue Resources offer lightly structured approaches for group exploration and collective sense-making on significant questions. They include Intentional Observation Dialogue, Perspective-taking Dialogue, and Focused Dialogue with OBREAU, each drawing on the practices of observation, reasonableness and authenticity in different ways to help groups think together more effectively.

The applications below are based on the underlying practices of Observation, Reasonableness and Authenticity. All three applications incorporate the three OBREAU practices in different ways. Yet each dialogue process serves a different purpose.

Intentional Observation Dialogue is a structured group process that helps a group to see an issue more clearly, with a stronger evidence base, before strategising and finding solutions.

Perspective-taking Dialogue is also a structured group process, this time to help a group extend and deepen its thinking on an issue by imagining and exploring possible stakeholder perspectives.

Focused Dialogue with OBREAU incorporates and builds upon aspects of both Intentional Observation Dialogue and Perspective-taking Dialogue, with a greater component on authenticity. It helps a group explore different realities and perspectives around an issue, including those of its own members, to better prepare for decisions about further action.

Note: Focused Dialogue with OBREAU is designed to be undertaken in 2-3 hours. There is also a longer [half-day or more] form of Dialogue with OBREAU, but it is a more demanding facilitation process and is not described on the site at present.

Intentional Observation Dialogue (OBREAU)

Outward-facing- helping a group see an issue more clearly

Workplace challenges often become difficult with people moving quickly to explanations, judgments, and solutions they favour. Intentional Observation Dialogue creates a disciplined space for exploring what can really be observed about a particular issue, situation, or challenge.

The focus is primarily outwards, towards the issue being explored – which differentiates it from the inwardly oriented Collective Pause.

Perspective-taking Dialogue (OBREAU)

Outwardly-facing – Helping a group imagine and explore other perspectives on an issue more clearly

Perspective-taking Dialogue focuses on strengthening the ability of groups to consider viewpoints other than their own.

Participants are invited to imagine how different people or stakeholder groups might make sense of the issue being explored.

The aim is to expand and deepen understanding. It’s not a matter of agreeing with those others or trying to persuade them to your view.

Focused Dialogue with OBREAU

Outwardly facing – Developing a richer understanding of an issue, to support action

Dialogue with OBREAU is a structured process that helps groups think more clearly and work more constructively when facing complex, uncertain or challenging situations.

Rather than rushing to solutions or debating their opinions, participants work progressively through the three OBREAU practices – Observation, Reasonableness and Authenticity. In doing so, they develop a richer understanding of the issue before deciding where to focus their attention.

Find Out More

Contact Don Dunoon to talk or find out about any of the resources described on this page – or anything else of interest elsewhere on the site.