Perspectives by the Constructive Dialogue Institute
Perspectives is a blended learning program that uses psychology and interactive activities to teach ways to communicate across differences and navigate conflict.
Why Campus Dialogue?
Did you know that 94% of students surveyed in a recent study agreed that, “We should
listen to others with an open mind, including those with whom we disagree?” In practice,
though, it’s so much easier said than done! In class, students report frequently encountering
offensive comments or being afraid to share their thoughts for fear of offending someone
else. Too often, when we do engage, we’re more likely to focus on winning an argument
than to explore where the other person is coming from.
Perspectives is an interactive, online resource that teaches Constructive Dialogue - conversations
across difference focused on mutual understanding. Once you’ve completed the six 30-minute
lessons, you’ll be able to explain what happens in our brains and bodies during conflicts,
where our deepest disagreements come from, and how to effectively share personal stories
and ask the best questions in order to understand, be understood, and discover
common ground. You’ll also have the option to practice your new skills in real-time
peer-to-peer conversations with other program participants.
Ready to get started? Sign up here! You can either join as an individual or sign up as a group or organization.
Principles of Constructive Dialogue:
Let go of winning
Approaching a conversation like a zero-sum battle, where one side wins and the other loses, sets up an adversarial dynamic that will typically lead others to put up their defenses. This dynamic minimizes the possibility of learning, and often damages relationships. By striving to “win,” you’re actually setting yourself up for failure. Instead, try entering conversations with curiosity and the goal to understand. You’ll find it can be contagious.
Get curious
There is so much hidden beneath people's statements. Asking questions can play a powerful role in uncovering the context, motivations, and values that inform another person’s views. When you lead with questions that invite others to share something meaningful or that seek out the nuances of someone’s perspective, you’ll quickly discover new possibilities in conversations across differences.
Share stories
Stories move people emotionally. They offer context to facts and figures. And they can allow you to convey your own views without telling someone else their view is wrong. Stories can be a powerful tool to replace frustrating disagreements with constructive ones. Instead of telling someone what you think, tell them a story about why an issue matters to you or how it affects you. And then invite them to do the same.
Navigate conflict with purpose
It’s normal for tensions to rise when discussing sensitive and controversial issues. We are biologically wired to activate a fight, flight, or freeze response to these heated moments. These responses often leave us feeling like we have less control over our actions and are more likely to say or do something we later regret. By identifying when your fight, flight, or freeze response is starting to take hold and pausing to regain control of the situation, you are much better positioned to move forward with intention.
Find what's shared
The commonalities we find with each other – both big and small – can be the glue that holds a conversation together through conflict. Finding what’s shared is about purposefully seeking out those similarities and using them to move forward together, even in the middle of a disagreement.
Got Questions?
Want to learn more before you sign up? Reach out to Josh Shulruff, Campus Dialogue
Program
Manager:
Phone: 801.587.0218
Email: josh.shulruff@utah.edu
Office: Bennion Center, Suite 101 in the Union (west side of the building, same level as
the food
court)
