"The Systems Thinker: Dialogic Leadership" ......for competitve advantage and organizational effectiveness

Often, as was the case with the merger between Monsanto and American Home Products, personal differences, or power struggles will cause a business deal to dissolve. These power struggles and discussions fail by bringing forth arguments, where people defend their points of view and try to convince the others that one idea is right. Conversely Dialogic conversations bring forth collective wisdom where people "think together." They explore the questions and uncertainties that not one person has answers to. In any conversation a balance of four-players allows an idea to succeed. This is why dialogic leadership is essential to problem solving and seeing ideas into fruition. The term 'dialogue' in its essence is "an inquiry that surfaces ideas, perceptions, and understanding that people do not already have."

Dialogic conversations have four balancing players made up of one or more people.
Some people (1) inspire and move an idea forward, others (2) follow and support the idea, (3) others oppose, and question the validity of the idea, and others (4) bystand and provide perspective. These are the Movers, the Followers, the Opposers, and the Bystanders. Some people will naturally feel more comfortable in one role, than another, and others will see where there is unbalance and fill in the necessary actions. It is also necessary for people to keep each other in check that one is not stuck in one position. If only the Movers and Opposers are actively participating, the Followers and the Bystanders will become disabled. The positions of Movers and Opposers are that of Advocacy, while that of Bystander and Follower in that of Inquiry.

A father came to Gandhi and said...you must get my child to stop eating sugar. Gandhi replied, come back in three days. In three days, the father came back with the boy. Gandhi said, "boy you must stop eating sugar" The father was confused and said, why did you make us come back? Gandhi replied, "First, I had to stop eating suger."

A good dialogic leader will be able to facilitate all roles happening and keep balance where balance is due. This person also leads in everyday life this example. By expressing one's true voice, being courageous and encourageing others to do the same. A dialogic leader will also encourage listening as well as voicing one's opinion, respecting as well as opposing, following, and suspending your certainties to make room for other's views.
A dialogic leader will:
1. evoke people's genuine voices
2. listen deeply
3. hold space for and respect other's views as legitimate
4. broaden awareness and perspective

As the leader exhibits these actions and encourages others to do the same, this balance found allows for creative ideas to flourish when we listen together.

Without Movers there is no direction...Without Followers there is no completion....Without Opposers there is no correction...Without Bystanders there is no perspective.