AustraliaAustriaBrazilCanadaChinaCzech RepublicEgyptFranceGermanyGlobalIndiaItalyJapanMexicoNetherlandsPolandSaudia ArabiaSingaporeSpainTurkeyUAEUnited KingdomUnited States As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission when you purchase a book via this site. Conversational Intelligence: How Great Leaders Build Trust and Get Extraordinary Results Conversational Wisdom: Strengthening Human Connection Through the Power of Conversation Tags: conversation (187) | conversational learning (20)Google Web Search Photo … Continue reading Conversational Learning: an Experiential Approach to Knowledge Creation by Ann C. Baker, Patricia J. Jensen, David A. Kolb (2002)
The book “Changing Conversations in Organizations” by Patricia Shaw explores a complexity-informed approach to organizational change that focuses on the self-organizing and emergent properties of conversation. Shaw suggests that real change happens through the ongoing, everyday conversations and interactions between people in organizations rather than through structured change programs or interventions designed and controlled by … Continue reading Changing Conversations in Organizations: A Complexity Approach to Change by Patricia Shaw (2002)
This blook is not just about me. Numerous people, some living, some not, have understood the power of conversation, appreciated the complexity of the world, and have influenced my thinking. You will find the profiles of a few of these people here. The list below is a subset of these people, whose prime focus is … Continue reading Conversation Thinkers It’s the fringe thinkers who change the world
The Surprising Benefits of Doodling The Neuroscience of Conversation Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Detailed ResourcesHarvard Business Review: The Neurochemistry of Positive Conversations by Judith E. Glaser and Richard D. Glaser (2014) Continue reading Introduction: the Neuroscience of Conversation Conversations trigger changes in the brain
Complex Adaptive Systems Vs. Complex Responsive Processes ** Conversations Through the Cynefin Lens Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Conversations are a familiar part of daily life, yet their complexity often goes unnoticed. Beneath the surface, they … Continue reading Conversations Are Complex Responsive Processes Conversations are dynamic, emergent interactions shaping organizational reality
Introduction: the Neuroscience of Conversation Conversational Chemistry Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Conversation is not just an interactive communication between two or more people, it causes a change of emotions by inducing the brain to secrete … Continue reading The Neuroscience of Conversation Conversations trigger changes in the brain
Conversations Are Complex Responsive Processes Dispositional States ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Navigating conversations can be challenging, especially when the dynamics shift from simple exchanges to complex discussions. The Cynefin framework, originally designed for decision-making, … Continue reading Conversations Through the Cynefin Lens Unraveling the intricacies of everyday conversations
Conversation has evolved slowly, shaped by history, culture, and philosophy. We often forget it’s not a fixed or simple act, but a practice that has changed over time. Understanding its roots can help us see conversation not just as talk, but as a powerful form of shared human inquiry. Continue reading Introduction: History and Philosophy of Conversation The art of conversation has evolved over thousands of years
What Is a Real Conversation? The Value of Conversation ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Numerous words or phrases describe the varied forms of conversation and speech. This page lists some of the more common ones … Continue reading The Language of Conversation and Speech Meanings of words describing conversation and speech
Conversation has developed alongside human civilization, from simple gestures to complex dialogue. Yet we often ignore its rich history, treating it as casual talk. Tracing its evolution helps us rediscover conversation as a profound human practice shaped by philosophy, culture, and time. Continue reading History of Conversation The changing face of conversation through the ages
The philosophy of conversation investigates the intricate dynamics of human interaction by exploring how we exchange ideas, share experiences, and build relationships through dialogue. By philosophically examining conversation, we gain a deeper understanding of our conversational practices to appreciate dialogue as core to the human experience. Continue reading Philosophy of Conversation Conversation is fundamental to the human experience
Words can reveal insights into the history and evolution of language. The word “conversation” has significantly changed its meaning and usage over time. What is the origin and history of “conversation”, and how has its meaning changed? Continue reading Etymology of Conversation A history of the word “conversation”
The origins of conversation stretch back long before recorded history, evident in oral traditions, myths and records of ancient cultures across the world. Through archaeology and study of early writings, we can piece together the foundations of dialogue that evolved over millennia in human societies. Continue reading The Emergence of Conversation in Early Cultures ** Conversation stretches far back into prehistory
The Enlightenment, a period of intellectual and scientific revolution in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by a focus on reason and critical thinking, was fueled by lively conversation, where ideas were shared, debated, and improved through social interaction. At the heart of this conversational ferment lay a surprising source: the ancient Roman art of informal discourse, known … Continue reading The Conversational Enlightenment ** Was fueled by a surprisng source, the ancient Roman art of convesration known as sermo
[InsertPanel style="importance"] Today, we face numerous challenges that require thoughtful dialogue and innovative solutions. Engaging in meaningful conversations allows us to exchange ideas, question assumptions, and collaboratively address pressing issues. This is where the concept of a “conversible world” becomes relevant. By cultivating our ability to participate in meaningful discussions, … Continue reading The Conversible World ** The sphere of human interaction and exchange of ideas
The Language of Conversation and Speech The Purposes of Conversation Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Continue reading The Value of Conversation ** Why are conversations so valuable?
Introduction: Discourse and Narrative ** Stories and Narratives Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Discourse profoundly shapes our perceptions and interactions. Exploring different forms of oral discourse—such as debates, interviews, and conversations—reveals how we convey ideas and … Continue reading Oral Public Discourse Verbal expression aimed at a public audience
Keynote Talk: Smarter Online Conversations at ECSM 2014 | David Gurteen People: David GurteenDavid Gurteen Keynote speaker, writer and conversational facilitatorBooks: David GurteenA Conversation Architect Designs Strategic Conversations David GurteenAPM Conference: Conversational Leadership David Gurteen (2016)Being Truthful Versus Telling the Truth David GurteenChatbot Constraints David GurteenChatbots as Critical Thinking Partners – Talk for Bibliotheca Alexandrina … Continue reading Smarter Online Conversations David Gurteen, 2014
Benjamin Franklin’s essay “On Conversation” provides timeless insights into social interactions. The problem lies in common conversational pitfalls such as talking too much or being self-centered. We can create more pleasant and respectful conversations by practicing complaisance, good nature, and attentiveness. Continue reading On Conversation An essay by Benjamin Franklin, the Pennsylvania Gazette, 1730
Conversational Leadership Mindset The Impact of Cognitive Biases in Conversation Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Conversations shape how we connect, collaborate, and solve problems. Groups often struggle to focus on the right issues, approach discussions constructively, … Continue reading Three Questions for Meaningful Conversations Clarify focus, approach, and community-building in discussions
Conversational Self-awareness Conversational Awareness Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Effective communication is essential for building strong relationships and developing self-awareness. When communication breaks down or misunderstandings occur, it can strain personal connections. The Johari Window model … Continue reading Conversation Through the Lens of the Johari Window Understanding ourselves and others through conversation
Active Listening ** Conversational Continuous Self-improvement ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close The success of a conversation largely depends on how we choose to respond during our turn to speak. Our responses can either facilitate a … Continue reading The Art of Navigating Conversations Choosing our repsonses carefully
Tacit knowledge is a type of knowledge that is difficult to express or communicate through words. It is a vital component of human expertise and plays a crucial role in enabling us to adapt to new situations, solve complex problems, and drive innovation and progress. Continue reading The Importance of Tacit Knowledge Tacit knowledge is knowledge that is difficult to transfer
Three Questions for Meaningful Conversations The Perils of Binary Bias ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Cognitive biases affect how we interpret and respond to conversation and reason together, potentially leading to flawed or irrational conclusions, … Continue reading The Impact of Cognitive Biases in Conversation Cognitive biases can lead to flawed or irrational conclusions in a conversation
In his essay Of Essay-Writing, the Scottish philosopher David Hume distinguishes between two distinct realms of intellectual discourse: the learned and the conversible. … Continue reading Two Realms of Intellectual Discourse ** The learned and the conversible
Conversational Capacities Dialogue Vs Debate ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Introduction Conversations can be categorized according to level in many ways, depending on the purpose of the categorization. For example, how different styles of conversation … Continue reading Levels of Conversation ** Four levels of conversation
Avoid Anonymity Make Time to Talk Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Habits can be classified in various ways, but two commonly recognized ways are micro-habits and macro-habits. Micro-habits In the context of Conversational Leadership, a micro-habit … Continue reading Introduction: Conversational Habits The habitual ways in which we practice Conversational Leadership
Dialogue Vs Debate ** Improving Informal Conversations ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Conversation is a dance. In the same way that dance is improvisational by its very nature, conversations are as well. We never know … Continue reading Conversation Is a Dance ** Conversation and dance are both improvisational
Introduction: Conversational Habits Talk More Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Make time to talk: One of the reasons we frequently give for not taking a more conversational approach to our work or life is a lack … Continue reading Make Time to Talk The lack of time for conversation is just an excuse
Conversation Is a Dance ** Life Is a Conversation ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close We often have informal professional meetings without a plan in which the conversation meanders and little is accomplished. We need to … Continue reading Improving Informal Conversations ** Add a little structure
Improving Informal Conversations ** Conversation Is More Than Communication Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Life is a conversation between ourselves and the world around us. What conversation do you want your life to be? Continue reading Life Is a Conversation ** Life is a conversation between ourselves and the world around us
Life Is a Conversation ** The Difference Between Dialogue and Debate ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Face-to-face conversation is far more than just communication. When we have a conversation, we don’t just exchange information. That’s … Continue reading Conversation Is More Than Communication Conversation shapes our lives
Anecdote Circles Brainstorming Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close In challenging conversations, differing viewpoints can lead to tension and misunderstandings. A conversation covenant offers a structured approach to ensure respectful, constructive dialogue. By establishing agreed-upon guidelines, it … Continue reading Conversation Covenant Creating a psychologically safer space for difficult conversations
The Difference Between Dialogue and Debate ** Meetings and Conversations Serve Two Purposes Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close With increasing polarization in society, effective communication that fosters connection and understanding is essential. Jazz improvisation and conversation … Continue reading The Jazz of Conversations Drawing parallels between jazz improv and conversations
Make Time to Talk Talk with Strangers Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Talk More: How do you start to practice Conversational Leadership? That’s easy. Start talking. Talk more! Talk more An essential aspect of Conversational Leadership … Continue reading Talk More The essence of Conversational Leadership is to talk with people more
Talk with Strangers Connect More Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Make Big talk: We are all familiar with small talk. But what’s big talk? No, not boasting, bragging, or talking big, but big talk — deep, … Continue reading Make Big Talk Make big talk not small talk
Why Face-to-face Interaction Matters ** Verbal Judo ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Research shows that engaging in short friendly conversations boosts people’s performance on a variety of cognitive tasks. A study in 2011 by researchers … Continue reading Friends with Cognitive Benefits Engaging in short friendly conversations improves people’s thinking
Turn-taking is the practice of individuals in a conversation alternating speaking roles. It involves one person talking while others listen and then transitioning to the next speaker. This back-and-forth exchange enables effective communication and ensures everyone has an opportunity to contribute to the conversation. Continue reading Turn-taking in Conversation When we talk we take turns
British Gentlemen’s Clubs ** Viennese Coffeehouses ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close In the 17th and 18th centuries, salons flourished in Paris, Vienna, and the rest of Europe. Salons were social gatherings hosted in private homes, … Continue reading Salons A gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host
Turn-taking in Conversation Our Most Powerful Technology Is Conversation Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Pask’s Conversation Theory, developed by British cybernetician Gordon Pask in the 1970s, is a conceptual and theoretical framework that explores how learning … Continue reading Conversation Theory ** Gordon Pask
Introduction: Knowledge Café Principles Knowledge Café Principle: Everyone Has an Equal Voice Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Principle: Conversation is Sovereign. The Knowledge Café aims to facilitate meaningful conversations. To do this, it is important to … Continue reading Knowledge Café Principle: Conversation Is Sovereign It’s all about the conversation
Connection Before Content Understanding Debates Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Conversare events are social gatherings in public places where people engage in one-to-one conversations with strangers. Conversare events are the brainchild of Alan Stewart, who runs them … Continue reading Conversare Events Social gatherings which people engage in one-to-one conversation with a stranger
Conversation Theory ** The Myth of Thamus and Theuth Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close What is the most powerful technology ever invented? Electricity, the Internet, nuclear power, the printing press or something different? In our business … Continue reading Our Most Powerful Technology Is Conversation Conversation – an overlooked human technology
Knowledge Café: Getting Started The Knowledge Café Metaphor Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close The Knowledge Café is a conversational method that gathers a group of people to share knowledge and experiences, learn from one another, build … Continue reading Introduction: Knowledge Café Improving decision-making, innovation, and collaboration
The Myth of Thamus and Theuth Connecting Minds Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Many of us find it difficult to give a speech, and it is not always easy to listen to one, but we are … Continue reading Our Brains Are Designed for Conversation That is why we find conversation so easy
Connecting Minds Hard Conversation Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close There are two conversations. The face-to-face external conversations we have with other people. And the silent internal conversations or inner conversations we have with ourselves, in our heads. Thinking … Continue reading Thinking Together Talking with each other beats talking to ourselves
The Watercooler Effect Walking Conversations ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Office hallways have traditionally been spaces for quick, informal exchanges among colleagues. However, these brief interactions often go underutilized. By embracing the potential of these … Continue reading The Value of Hallway Conversations The magic of the hallway conversation lies in its spontaneity
Let’s Have More Interesting Conversations Organizational Conversation ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close One reason people often give for not taking a more conversational approach to their work is the lack of time. Many even see … Continue reading Conversation Sharpens the Saw It is not a waste of time
Conversation Sharpens the Saw Bake Conversation Into All That We Do ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Conversation permeates our organizational lives. Organizational Conversation is the myriad of conversations that occur minute-to-minute every day within an … Continue reading Organizational Conversation ** The conversation is the organization
Speak in Plain Language Take Responsibility for the Conversation ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Turn monologues into dialogues: Turn one-way communication into two-way conversations. Talk with people rather than at them. A monologue is a … Continue reading Turn Monologues Into Dialogues Talk with people rather than talk at them
Turn Monologues Into Dialogues Speak with Less Conviction Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Take responsibility for the conversation: A few participants dominate many conversations, and as a result, there is no real engagement or energy in … Continue reading Take Responsibility for the Conversation ** We all need to take responsibility for the quality of our conversations
Shared Meaning Reframing Questions Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Culture plays an essential role in our societal and organizational lives. It shapes us in a variety of ways. Culture and Conversation We can view a society … Continue reading Culture Basic tacit assumptions about how the world works
Knowledge Café: Posing the Question Knowledge Café: Large Group Design ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Over the years, in running my Knowledge Cafés, I have discovered through experimentation and observation that the ideal group size … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Small Group Design The ideal small group size is three or four
Conversational Continuous Self-improvement ** Impossible Conversations Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close A difficult conversation is unpleasant, one where we feel discomfort and awkwardness, such as asking our boss for a pay rise or confronting a neighbor. … Continue reading Difficult Conversations Navigating emotionally challenging conversations
Difficult Conversations Introduction: Conversational Leadership Skills Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close An impossible conversation may feel futile as it occurs between individuals who possess radically different ideas, beliefs, morals, politics, or worldviews. Such conversations are likely … Continue reading Impossible Conversations Navigating conversations across ideological divides
The Value of Hallway Conversations Introduction: Conversational Environments ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Next time you have a one-on-one meeting, make it into a “walking conversation”. Research shows that walking improves your creativity – never … Continue reading Walking Conversations ** Walking …
