Entanglement and Contradictions: Seeing Beyond

Venice, Italy, provides a number of striking images: 118 islands joined together by bridges, vaporettos, gondolas, and speed boats; architecture that unites past with present; and colorful buildings that blend with the Venetian Lagoon.  Like the Venetian landscape, a goal of the  Dialogue Skills is connection - bridging across; creating passage; providing a network.

In the past few weeks, we have explored the first three skills articulated by Chris Argyris and his colleagues (to read the previous blogs, click on the dialogue skill link, below):

• Combine advocacy with inquiry
• Illustrate abstract interpretation with concrete information 
• Share your thought process and check for agreement

Connections can be built anywhere

The fourth skill, look for contradicting data and alternative explanations, draws us into a series of paradoxes: to dialogue means to listen; to advocate an idea invites us to become open to other ways of thinking; and to persuade others suggests being drawn into a process that may influence us.  Slowing down and practicing dialogue are ways to actively engage our values and beliefs.  Through listening, openness, and being drawn in, our values and beliefs may be strengthened as we explore the foundations of why we believe as we do.

The process of dialogue encourages us to notice and question the assumptions and meanings we have ascribed to a situation:

• Could there be another explanation for what was heard or observed?
• Is there a different meaning or conclusion?
• Might "group think" or "common understanding" influence shared perceptions?

Beautiful contradictions!  (EuropeUpClose.com)

As we unveil our thought processes and look for contradicting data, we begin to experience, like Venice, the many colors and styles that sit side-by-side, a neighborhood created out of its particular beauty and charm!

So too is the diversity of our individual beliefs as these are shared and integrated, keeping its uniqueness as it becomes creatively interdependent with the Whole!

Venice: 118 Islands of creative entanglement!

It isn't until we pull back and look at these interlocking relationships that we are able to communicate deeply with a new-found curiosity to inquire, to inspire, and to learn.  We begin to marvel at the creative entanglement of our lives, lives so interdependent and so necessary!

Finding other ways to connect

Venice also reminds us that bridges are but one way to move from one island to another.  Some islands can only be reached by a form of water transportation.  Moving out on the water means seeing the islands from a different vantage point and a new understanding of how connections come in many forms.

Building bridges helps us focus on connectivity.  Moving out on the water invites trust in one another.  When I stepped onto a vaporetto for the first time, I assumed the pilot was skilled, knew the direction, and could get us to our destination.  Dialogue invites us to trust one another: at times, you may be the pilot; at other times I may need to lead.

Questions to consider:

• Where am I headed this week?
• How will I get there: by myself? with another?
• Who has the responsibility to pilot the dialogue and connect us?

May peace and creativity be with you as you cross the bridges and passages of this week!

Larry Gardepie