gcd infographic

GUIDING COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION

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Conversat ion Types

DEBATE

SHARED UNDERSTANDING/

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION

CASUALCONVERSATION INTERVIEW

Explore Other Perspectives

Shar

e Yo

ur P

ersp

ectiv

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Adapted from The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge

Collaborative discussions are the result of exploring other perspectives and authentically sharing your own perspective. They …

Guiding Collaborat ive Discussion

Build trust Improve innovation

Result in better decisions

Drive engagement

Exploring Other Perspect ives

Draw out the data, experiences, and reasoning behind what others are saying.

Encourage your conversation partner to give examples and specifics.

Describe the data, experiences, and reasoning that led to your assumptions.

Give examples of what you mean, even if they are hypothetical.

Sharing Your Perspect ive

Listening Tips

Be open to learning from what the other

person is saying

Match Words with Intent

Summarize

Clarify

Reflect

Withhold judgment or opinion

High-gain questions cause people to think in ways they previously have not, by encouraging a higher degree of:

High-gain questions meet these criteria:

Evaluation or analysis

Speculation

Expression of feelings or beliefs

Open-ended

Brief and clear

Defy a quick, ready-made answer

Provoke a thoughtful response

Tips for Managing Your EmotionsStop and recognize your own emotions and the intensity with which you are experiencing them. Don’t suppress or deny your feelings, name them.

Breathe. Give yourself 8 seconds or so to calm down before responding.

Re-evaluate how you can express your feelings in a non-confrontational way. Use “I” rather than “you” (“I feel angry because …” instead of “You made me angry by …”)

Acknowledge the other person’s feelings as legitimate. 

Time

EmotionalIntensity

Reaction

Regret or RemorseTrigger

Strong feelings(anger, fear)

Physical arousal(rapid breathig, etc.)

Automatic reaction(yell, attack verbally) 

ADVANCE

CONCLUDE

OPEN Explore Other Perspectives Gather Information with High-Gain Questions

Authentically Share Your Perspective Match Words with Intent

Purpose Benefit Check

Summarize Check Agree onActionsand Check

Create a “T” chart.

On the left side, write what you think and feel about the situation.

On the right side, write how you will express your thoughts and feelings.

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2

3

Take notes on what you are thinking and feeling before you speak.

Match your words with your thoughts.

Consider the impact.

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2

3

Review how you did.

After the Discussion

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Prepare

I’m thinking/feeling one thing

But saying something different

During the Discussion