Organizations Are Shaped in Conversation Ed Schein on dialogic thinking and change

I recently came across a short video of Edgar Schein discussing dialogic OD, and it resonated strongly with my thinking on Conversational Leadership.

He reminds us that organizations are shaped in conversation, and that change comes less from diagnosis and prescription, and more from creating the conditions for people to think together. Rather than relying on tools or predefined methods, he points us back to inquiry, to not knowing, and to staying open to what might emerge.

That sits at the heart of conversational leadership as I see it, not as a role or technique, but as a practice of engaging with others in ways that allow shared understanding and new possibilities to develop.

I have long been a fan of Schein’s work. He died a few years ago, but his ideas continue to offer clear and practical guidance in a world that feels increasingly uncertain.

You can watch the video and read a short, cleaned transcript here.