Preparing for a dialogue and compiling your own toolbox

The leader of the discussion ensures that the atmosphere is one of equality and trust and leads the dialogue. Good preparation increases confidence, makes it easier to deepen the discussion and deal with possible emotional outbursts and conflicts. The leader should both know how to lead a dialogue and be familiar with the content of the discussion. Think about the below questions when you are preparing to lead a dialogue. You will find more instructions for each situation from the following tools.

Leading a discussion

• How do I create an atmosphere of equality and trust?
• What are my most important aids in leading the dialogue?
• What will I do if strong emotional outbursts begin to dominate the discussion?
• What will I do if the discussion gets stuck in a deadlock situation?
• What will I do if the discussion does not flow or people agree on things too much?
• What will I do if the discussion becomes too intense?

The issue under discussion

• What has been said about the topic recently? Why?
• What are the points of view among the participants?
• What do people agree on?
• What do they disagree on?
• How can you express everything using everyday language and avoid specialist vocabulary?