Beyond Talk
Conversations about contested issues often generate more heat than light. Participants talk past each other, default to entrenched positions, and leave feeling unheard. Structured dialogue is a deliberate counter to this dynamic.
What Makes Dialogue Structured?
Structured dialogue differs from ordinary conversation in several key ways:
- Explicit ground rules that create psychological safety and mutual respect.
- Facilitated turns that ensure every voice is heard before responses are made.
- Distinct phases — exploring perspectives before evaluating them.
- Documentation of what was said and where agreement or disagreement lies.
Methods Worth Knowing
Socratic Dialogue
Participants rigorously examine a shared question, pursuing deeper understanding rather than winning. Facilitators guide the inquiry rather than contribute conclusions.
Deliberative Polling
A random sample of citizens learns about an issue, deliberates in small groups, and is polled before and after. The result reveals what public opinion would be under ideal conditions.
World Café
Large groups rotate through small-table conversations, cross-pollinating ideas and building on each other's insights over multiple rounds.
Digital Platforms
Emerging tools are bringing structured dialogue online, allowing asynchronous participation at scale while preserving the deliberative qualities of in-person formats. Our Dialogue Simulator is one contribution to this space.
Outcomes
Research consistently shows that well-facilitated structured dialogue increases mutual understanding, reduces polarisation, and produces decisions with broader legitimacy — even when full consensus is not reached.