Chapter: Conversational Leadership Methods


Café conversation

Let the conversation flow at its own pace, don’t try to rush it or control it.

You need to let go and be part of the conversation.

Credit: Max Weiss


Conversational Leadership
To practice Conversational Leadership, it is essential to understand the difference between Conversational Leadership mindset, skills, habits, and methods.

A Conversational Leadership mindset is our mental attitudes, approaches, or ways of thinking about practicing Conversational Leadership. Our beliefs, values, and experiences shape it, impacting our ability to hold productive conversations and practice effective leadership.

Conversational Leadership skills involve facilitating open and constructive conversations, actively listening, building trust, and empowering others to collaborate towards shared goals.

Conversational Leadership habits are how we use those abilities daily, such as avoiding judgment, showing empathy, and being present in a conversation. We develop these habits and tendencies over time through repeated actions and experiences.

Conversational Leadership methods are structured conversational processes that bring a group of people together to discuss a topic or an issue.

Developing our Conversational Leadership mindset, skills, habits, and methods improves our ability to lead and communicate effectively.

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Traditionally, conversational methods are convened by trained or professional facilitators. But conversation is far too important to be left to trained specialists. We all need to learn to convene conversational events. Conversation is everyone’s responsibility.

In this chapter, I explore some of the more powerful conversational methods that anyone can use.


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Introduction: Conversational Methods Ways of structuring conversations

Conversational Leadership To practice Conversational Leadership, it is essential to understand the difference between Conversational Leadership mindset, skills, habits, and methods. This chapter focuses on methods A Conversational Leadership mindset is our mental attitudes, approaches, or ways of thinking about practicing Conversational Leadership. Our beliefs, values, and experiences shape it, … Continue reading Introduction: Conversational Methods Ways of structuring conversations

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After-action Reviews and the Habit of Thoughtful Leadership Conversations Nurturing a conversational culture

It’s easy to move from one activity to the next without pausing to reflect. This absence of reflection often results in repeated mistakes and missed opportunities for improvement. Regularly using After-Action Reviews allows teams to learn from their experiences and enhance performance. Continue reading After-action Reviews and the Habit of Thoughtful Leadership Conversations Nurturing a conversational culture

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Conversation Covenant Creating a psychologically safer space for difficult conversations

Differing viewpoints can lead to tension and misunderstandings in challenging conversations. A conversation covenant provides a structured approach to ensuring respectful and constructive dialogue. Establishing agreed-upon guidelines helps create a safe environment for discussing even the most difficult topics. Continue reading Conversation Covenant Creating a psychologically safer space for difficult conversations

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Brainstorming A group discussion to produce a list of ideas or solutions to a problem.

Conversation Covenant Brown-bag Lunches ** What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close What is brainstorming? Brainstorming is a popular ideation technique for generating new ideas. The basic premise is to get a group together and have them share their ideas freely, without judgment. The goal Continue reading Brainstorming A group discussion to produce a list of ideas or solutions to a problem.

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Brown-bag Lunches ** An informal opportunity to learn at work

Brainstorming C-group What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close A brown bag lunch is a casual, in-work learning experience for employees. It is often used as an occasional means of conveying work-related information but primarily broadens employee knowledge on non-work or job-specific subjects and ideas. Continue reading Brown-bag Lunches ** An informal opportunity to learn at work

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C-group Develop your interpersonal and conversational skills

Brown-bag Lunches ** Bridging Divides ** What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Purpose The C-group is an innovative, experiential, and transformative learning methodology that enables a small group of people to practice and develop their interpersonal and conversational skills. These competencies are critical in Continue reading C-group Develop your interpersonal and conversational skills

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Bridging Divides **

C-group Community of Innovation ** What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Resources OECD: Bridging divides in a post-truth world [Status: stub] POST NAVIGATION C-group Community of Innovation ** What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Continue reading Bridging Divides **

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Community of Innovation ** A form of community of practice that is dedicated to the support of innovation.

Bridging Divides ** What Is a Community of Practice What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close A Community of Innovation (COI) is a  form of Community of Practice that is dedicated to the support of innovation. Resources Wikipedia: Community of innovation [Status: stub] Tags: community Continue reading Community of Innovation ** A form of community of practice that is dedicated to the support of innovation.

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What Is a Community of Practice A group of people who share a passion for something they do

People learn a great deal from one another, often in small groups that form naturally around shared work. Many organizations struggle because they treat this activity as something to manage rather than something to support. Communities of practice provide a straightforward approach for individuals to learn together through sustained, informal conversations. Continue reading What Is a Community of Practice A group of people who share a passion for something they do

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Understanding Debates Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it

Debates are an essential part of communication, allowing for the exchange of differing viewpoints. However, understanding their various forms and purposes can be challenging. By examining the structure and significance of debates, we can gain a deeper understanding of their role in public discourse and critical thinking. Continue reading Understanding Debates Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it

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Dialogue Dialogue is a disciplined form of conversation

The meaning of dialogue The word “dialogue” has several meanings, depending on the context in which it is used. If you look up the word in most dictionaries, you will find definitions like this. A conversation between two or more persons. e.g., A discussion about the subject took place. The exchange of opinions between people or groups who disagree with each other. e.g., There was a dialogue … Continue reading Dialogue Dialogue is a disciplined form of conversation

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Flipped Teaching Speech is a bad medium for communicating information - so watch lectures at home

Dialogic Organization Development The Power of Team Huddles What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Flipped teaching reverses, or “flips”, traditional in-class lectures and homework. Students watch the teacher’s prerecorded lecture at home, and in-class time is used for students to test their skills, apply Continue reading Flipped Teaching Speech is a bad medium for communicating information – so watch lectures at home

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The Oracy Lab An experimental space for exploring the power and possibilities of conversations

The Power of Team Huddles Ongoing Performance Conversations What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close The Oracy Lab is an experimental space for exploring the power and possibilities of conversations and spoken communication for conveying meaning and co-creating a deeper understanding of the complexity and Continue reading The Oracy Lab An experimental space for exploring the power and possibilities of conversations

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Ongoing Performance Conversations From annual performance reviews to on-going performance conversations

The Oracy Lab Open Space Conversations What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close The days of the traditional annual or semi-annual performance review are coming to an end at many companies. These formal reviews are being replaced by more regular coaching conversations between managers and Continue reading Ongoing Performance Conversations From annual performance reviews to on-going performance conversations

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Open Space Conversations A way to organise conversations that matter

Conferences often rely on rigid agendas that leave little room for genuine exchange and meaningful discussion. Yet the most valuable insights usually surface in informal conversations. Open Space Technology offers a simple way to place those conversations at the centre, creating Space for people to set their own agenda and follow what matters. Continue reading Open Space Conversations A way to organise conversations that matter

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Ritual Dissent ** A structured way for a group of peers to criticize proposals or ideas

Randomised Coffee Trials Speed Consulting What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Ritual Dissent is a structured way for a group of peers to criticize proposals or ideas by subjecting them to ritualized dissent in order to improve them. Resources Ritual Dissent Cynefin: Ritual Dissent Blog Continue reading Ritual Dissent ** A structured way for a group of peers to criticize proposals or ideas

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Speed-conversation Without relatedness, no work can occur

Speed Consulting Street Epistemology What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close I often run a speed-conversation session at the start of a Knowledge Café and workshops or conferences. It is a great ice-breaker and exceptionally easy to run.  Sometimes speed-conversation is called speed-networking, but I prefer Continue reading Speed-conversation Without relatedness, no work can occur

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Street Epistemology Exploring deeply held beliefs

Speed-conversation Spectrum Street Epistemology What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close We all hold deeply rooted personal beliefs, many of which we have never questioned. Street Epistemology is a conversational technique based on the Socratic method, designed to explore our beliefs and our confidence in Continue reading Street Epistemology Exploring deeply held beliefs

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Reverse Brainstorming Café Brainstorming the opposite of what you want

Spectrum Street Epistemology Theodore Zeldin’s Conversation Dinners What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Coming up with new ideas or insights in a conventional brainstorming session is often hard work and not very engaging. An alternative approach is the so-called reverse brainstorming. Overview of the Continue reading Reverse Brainstorming Café Brainstorming the opposite of what you want

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Theodore Zeldin’s Conversation Dinners Dinner and a stimulating conversation with a stranger

Reverse Brainstorming Café Unhurried Conversations ** What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close The Conversation Dinner, inspired by Theodore Zeldin, connects strangers for meaningful conversation. With a unique menu of thought-provoking questions, it encourages open exchanges that move beyond small talk, creating opportunities for deep, Continue reading Theodore Zeldin’s Conversation Dinners Dinner and a stimulating conversation with a stranger