Chapter 2
The Implications of Dialogue Gap
The problems of most organizations can be traced directly to their inability to think and talk together, particularly at critical moments.
—William Isaacs
Change is at Hand
The world is rapidly becoming a much more complicated place to live peacefully and successfully. Economic turmoil, conflict, pollution, disease, overpopulation, climate change, and other challenges are making the need for dialogue greater than ever. At the same time the rapid growth and frequent use of digital communication is having a multitude of effects that aren’t always positive.
Dialogue Gap exists when the quality of our existing dialogue falls short of what we need to achieve optimal outcomes.
Digital gadgetry like personal computers, smart phones, and televisions are:
- Improving communication but diminishing dialogue.
- Connecting humanity but isolating us in front of our screens.
- Improving multitasking but eliminating presence.
- Providing immediate answers but reducing our ability to think for ourselves; giving access to all stored knowledge but ruining our ability to remember it.
Should we care about these changes? Hasn’t mankind always managed to adjust to overcome current challenges? Is there really any need to worry? Given what I see in the organizations I work with around the world I think we need to push back the boundaries on several of these fronts so as to reduce the dialogue gap these changes have created. This chapter provides you with some of ...
