Having joined a study meeting of a book “The Design of Questions”, I think I could grasp the image of the Creative Dialogue mentioned in the book. The book explains a complete set of approaches on how to create innovative ideas by cultivating human relationships based on the wisdom of the authors on facilitation. It classifies dialogues among facilitators and participants into four categories, the highest level of which is the Creative Dialogue. When I first read this book, to be honest, I could not have the image of Creative Dialogue clearly, despite that I could understand the meaning.
After I joined a study meeting about the book organized by volunteered facilitators and practiced some ideas in the book during the groupworks, I became more confident in the image of the Creative Dialogue. My partners in the groupwork sometimes replied to my questions with the phrases of “That reminds me…” or “I have not thought about it…”. It was the moment of the Creative Dialogues in which the partners shift their interest to a higher level of purpose.
When we encounter a problem, we tend to think it within a given framework unconsciously. If we detach ourselves from own assumptions, we will be able to find out a new breakthrough solution. However, if the facilitator questions the participants in the same assumption, the result would not be so dramatic.
The facilitator needs to move out of the participant’s assumption and make a question from a new angle, by which the participant can have a new viewpoint. Then, the participant will come up with a breakthrough idea. I think that process should be how the Creative Dialogues are made.
Provided that the detachment from assumptions seemingly have strength. Based on my experience, some detachments are slightly out of the assumption, while others jump to another orbit. The bigger the leaps are, the more innovative the ideas become. To make big leaps, I have found two points.
Frist, make a habit of looking at things without the influence of common sense and rules. The ideas in the book are very useful to do so. It is recommended to use the ideas in real situation and evaluate. Furthermore, it is effective to always look at things in that way.
Next, make an appropriate relationship with the participants. It is a must to build the relationship as basis. The relationship is not simply a friendly one; it is more relaxed state, for example an environment which generates smiles. Certainly, this is not to make jokes though, the atmosphere may not be so common to Japanese office workers, I think. Of all things, facilitators should be aware of these points and think things in a relaxed manner. This is with strong self-discipline to myself. ■