Dialogue
Dialogue is a generative form of group conversation designed to dissolve fragmentation in collective and individual awareness and understanding, and to encourage coherent participation.
Dialogue emerged from a series of private gatherings on wholeness and fragmentation convened with David Bohm in the 1980s and announced through the paper Dialogue – A Proposal by David Bohm, Don Factor & Peter Garrett, 1991.
Since 1991, Dialogue has found extensive application in public and private organisations involved in all fields of human endeavour from healthcare to government, from manufacturing to criminal justice, from third world agriculture to banking, and from retail to philosophy.
There is a set of easily learned and empirically-derived skills that help to guide an organisation or community into an aligned way of thinking together and decision-making with those who are affected by those decisions. Where there are many stakeholders it is more efficient than silo or matrix arrangements, and more effective than social ignorance and confrontation – and Dialogue humanises systems and engenders cultures of respect.
Find out more about the history of Professional Dialogue.
Recorded during The World Needs Dialogue! 3 Virtual Conference 2020
The Academy
The Academy aims to:
- Inspire people to transform organisations and communities through Dialogue
- Acknowledge those who are engaged in effective Professional Dialogue work
- Support people who want to learn how to practice Dialogue
- Develop the breadth and depth of the whole field of Professional Dialogue
Open events
Every month you can join Academy Members in Generative Dialogues and Participative Webinars on a range of topics. View our upcoming events.
Annual conference
Our annual conference recognises the best practice in Professional Dialogue from around the world and enables in-depth face-to-face engagement with leading Dialogue Practitioners. The proceedings and all the papers considered during the conference are published. Learn more about our conference.
Membership
From beginners to experts, membership provides ongoing participation in the Academy for those who are looking to develop their understanding and practice. Members have access to regular online learning opportunities, theory and practice resources… and each other. Accredited Dialogic Organisations are awarded group membership. Find out more about joining the Academy.
Education
Certified courses in the theory and practice of Professional Dialogue are available. In-depth developmental programmes are offered for those who want to attain professional accreditation. Learn more about our courses.
Professional Standards
Professional Standards, a Code of Ethics and a Core Curriculum of knowledge and skills are central to the stature of the Academy. They provide the assurance that Professional Dialogue Practitioners accredited by the Academy are capable, and that they have the skills and know-how to align fragmented organisational and social situations through proven methods. Standards and a developmental path are also in place for organisations to become accredited by the Academy.
Research
We promote research into the application of Dialogue in different fields, and have an extensive research archive. Email us at hello@aofpd.org to find out more.