Visualizing Dialogue and Facilitation

As both a graphic facilitator and thinker, I at one time or another visualize everything, or almost everything, that emerges in my mind in how I view and interact with the world. 

The Mindset of Dialogue

So here is my latest view of this wonderful world of group wisdom - I'll build it entirely over a couple posts but this is the overall framework within which my mind is constantly searching for new learning and experiences. 

Here is a brief overview of this grid visualization:

Key Dimensions

• Top X Axis contains the key dimensions I believe are related to both the individual and the group for generative, productive dialogue AND facilitation:

1. Listening - there are MANY terms for this but as I fill out this model it will become obvious how I specifically define listening. It is a very active, dynamic, and ambitious endeavor that starts with the individual but encompasses the whole.  
2. Honoring - too often we honor ourselves, our point of view, our successes, and our certainties. And we want to bring them to the conversation to be a productive and valuable participant. However, when it comes to genuine co-creative dialogue, honoring is about the other - the other person, the other point of view, and the other side of my certainty. 
3. Contributing - when facilitation focuses on contribution, it is usually about being cognizant of the quiet ones - inviting them into the conversation, or watching body language for signals that someone needs to contribute. My take on this is focused more on authentic contribution and moving from contributing one perspective to contributing to the emerging whole. So some of this is on the facilitator, but most is on the individual. (This is one of the reasons why I believe the most creative dialogues is less about group facilitation and more about self-facilitation. More on that later. 
4. Suspending - this is the most impactful part of dialogue and where the burden lies - almost - entirely with the individual. True suspension requires deep self-awareness of how one thinks, where one's thoughts emerge from, it is the secret sauce, if there is one, to dialogue and peak group experiences. And to be honest, authentic suspension is HARD and is not a passive withholding of judgment. 

Hierarchy of the Mental Model

• The left Y axis represents the hierarchy that matters most to me, and when considered in entirety, can be the source of infinite learning, ideas, and experiments - both for a group and for an individual. 

1. Intention - this aspect captures the intention of each dimension. To me it represents the highest aspiration brought to bear in conscious intention by the individual and the group. What is the underlying, intentional stance for this dimension?
2. Principle - the principle aspect begins to communicate what that intention should look like or feel like in behavioral or mental formations. I'd like to say behavioral but since most of this is about the thought process and is invisible it is more like thought behaviors. 
3. Value - what is the underlying value that unleashes the power of each dimension? A clear articulation of values highlights the Big Whys and helps envision new and innovative approaches for each dimension. 
4. Behaviors - this is where I try to capture some effective practices that can either be used to exercise the muscle required of the dimension or used during dialogue and group facilitation. 

So....that's it for now. In my next post I'll fill in and explain some of the grid contents through the lens of my experiences both facilitating and participating group dialogue.