Interactive Dialogue
Here are seven interactive dialogue techniques that can help you successfully navigate the interaction phase of the Confront Model.
They can support you in interrogating reality, provoking learning (both your own and that of your conversation partner) and enriching your relationship.
- Signal positive motivation
- Deliver relevance
- Limit talk time
- Handover effectively
- Show value
- Signal understanding
- Clarify and investigate language before telling
The dialogue below illustrates some of these techniques in action.
Further Examples
Here are some other examples of things you could say to implement these interactive dialogue techniques. While you are reading through the list consider the following: Can you think of any other wordings that would come more naturally to you? Is it possible to articulate all of these techniques successfully, or is it simply better to model these behaviours?
Signal positive motivation:
- I really want to hear your side of things and agree on a way forward.
Deliver relevance:
- I’d like us both to stay focused on XXX. If other important things come up, I’ll be happy to make another appointment to discuss them.
- I’d like us to both stay focused on XXX. Is that OK for you?
- We’re here to talk about XXXX. I’d like to hear your thoughts on that.
Limit talk time:
- I’m going to try to be succinct, and I’d like to ask you to do the same.
- Let me know if I’m talking too much.
- What do you think?
- Does that answer your question?
Hand over effectively:
- I’d like to understand your perspective.
- How did you experience this?
- How do you see this?
Show value:
- That’s an important point.
- I’m pleased you raised that.
- Thank you.
- Thank you. I was unaware of that.
Signal understanding:
- I see.
- I understand.
Clarify and investigate language before telling:
- What did you mean by inappropriate?
- By “no time”, I understand that you have other tasks which have a higher priority. Is that what you mean?
- When you say “inappropriate”, what do you mean by that exactly?