Comment: Watts highlights the constant inner dialogue that shapes our perception of reality. In Conversational Leadership, recognizing this internal chatter is key—by becoming aware of it, we can shift from compulsive thinking to more intentional, meaningful conversations with ourselves and others.Most of us think compulsively all the time.
That is to say we talk to ourselves.
And I remember when I was a boy we had a common saying: ‘Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness’.
Credit: Alan Watts
Quotations: Alan Watts (3)
Blog Posts: Alan Watts (1)
Blog Posts: Alan Watts (1)
Image Credits: Pixabay
(Pixabay) Conversational Leadership Workshop
In-person, 7–11 September 2026, Warbrook House, Hampshire, UK
In-person, 7–11 September 2026, Warbrook House, Hampshire, UK
We are living and working in conditions of uncertainty, complexity, and rapid change. Many leadership approaches still rely on control, expertise, and tools that no longer fit the realities people face.
This week-long immersive workshop brings people together to practise Conversational Leadership as a shared, lived experience. It is not a training course but a space to slow down, think together, and explore how leadership emerges through dialogue, responsibility, and real engagement.
This quotation is part of a blook on Conversational Leadership. It is one of many quotations that have influenced my thinking on the subject. Parts of this blook have restricted access. You may browse the pages open to you, but you will need to register and be approved before you can login and access the full site. When you register, you may also sign-up to receive a quotation of the day by email.