Dialogue: Searching for the Unexpected, the Unknown

I was intrigued by an an online article that arrived in my work inbox recently, How to See the Unexpected.  Many of the posts I receive are about software design, about user research, creative thinking, mental models... topics to help design teams connect to customers and their expectations when using smart devices, websites, and anything somewhat technical in nature.

This article was different than the others I have read.  It wasn't tekkie or over-the-head.  One quote stood out that I thought was perfect for my understanding of dialogue:

"There is a part of everything which is unexplored. For this reason, the person who learns to truly see will always find something new and interesting."

Searching:  Going Deeper into the Unknown

Like the image of a nautilus chamber, a person practicing dialogue must be willing to move ever closer to the center of what was said or witnessed, seeking to understand the core of a person's intentions.  Moving from one chamber to the next brings a renewed sense of discovery as we focus on what is real... in that moment!

Searching:  Being Caught Up in Discovery
(Photo credit:  Surprising Facts about Spiderwebs, JSTOR)

At the same time, it is important to notice and let go of past webs that may have been created to trap and manipulate others.  As with the resourcefulness of the spider, we are invited to dismantle past silky strands and recreate or reshape our environment into one of safety and discovery, encouraging designs centered on curiosity and learning.

Searching:  For the Smallest Droplets of Beauty in Another
(Photo credit:  Pixdaus)

The person who learns to truly see, therefore, will begin to see beauty and goodness in each person.  Each individual globe is filled with sacredness and worth that is waiting to be seen.  When our minds are open to dialogue -- curiosity that asks questions, listening that truly hears, and understanding that engenders empathy and compassion -- our eyes are open to finding something new and interesting!

Questions to consider:

• What locks me into one chamber of thinking?
• What webs have I created or am entangled in?
•  How might I truly see the beauty and goodness in another person?

May this week bring new images to be discovered and understood!

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting

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