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The word dialogue comes from the root words dia (meaning through) and logos (the word). It gives the image “of a river of meaning flowing around and through each participant” (Bohm, 1991).
Depending on the facilitator’s comfort zone, the topic and who’s in the room, that river could be a meandering trickle or a white water rush. A guide or method to approach holding a dialogue can sometimes be a welcome relief to a group facilitator as well as to participants (sort of like bringing a life jacket on your wet adventure).
In Raising the Village (2009), we dedicate a chapter to dialogue – how to create space for it, how to ask those phenomenological questions that rock everyone’s world, and how that leads to constructing a collective relevance. In community, dialogue can provide the opportunity to create shared meaning, to learn from each member of a group, and to jointly explore an issue. It is very different from discussion or debate, which includes both problem solving and seeking closure. The issues that early years community developers tackle in community are complex and multi-factoral.
The Institute of Cultural Affairs created a method for guiding groups from discussion into dialogue. It is called ORID and while a funny acronym that rhymes with horrid, it, on the contrary, may just help avoid a horrid meeting!
Each step in the method takes a group into a deeper level of conversation. It allows people to process and contribute their thoughts systematically. One excellent example of its use is for early years community developers who are faced with facilitating conversations around local data such as the Early Development Indicator. Without a guide to help “navigate the river of logos,” groups can be overwhelmed with complex information.
After some information is presented to the group, a facilitator can apply the ORID process. The first stage is OBJECTIVE. This level resists getting wrapped up in opinions and interpretations and focuses solely on the information. Questions for this stage might include:
What phrases or ideas from the presentation stood out for you?
What factual statements can you make based on the data?
The next step is to allow participants to be REFLECTIVE and contribute their initial reactions, both positive and negative.
Questions for this stage might include:
What gives you concern? What gives you hope?
What encouraged you? What discouraged you?
How does this make you feel?
The third level towards dialogue is INTERPRETIVE. This now requires some critical thinking skills. Participants will be paddling into meaning making, finding value and significance. Questions at this stage may include:
What does this mean for the work we do together?
What new insights do you have?
What areas of need seem to arise?
Finally, the group reaches a DECISIONAL level in which collective opinion on next steps is the goal. A good question for this stage is:
How will we apply what we have talked about here today?
What are our proposed next steps?
Participants aren’t necessarily aware of the ORID process. When it has a free-flowing feeling, participants stay more activity engaged in the content instead of getting sidetracked with a structure. A strong facilitator will allow the questions of each stage to propel the conversation forward allowing participants to co-construct meaning in their logos.
May your river of meaning be safely navigated!
Village Raising Question
In what situations do you see your community using the ORID process?
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