Landscape of Conversation How do Communities make sure things get done?

Powerful Language Powerful Listening Powerful Requests Powerful Offerings Powerful Promises

The Opposite of Powerful Language Powerless Language Power-Empty Language Empty Language

Empty Promises Empty Threats Empty Predictions Empty Promises Empty of Meaning

Examples of Empty Language I will call you tomorrow Let’s do lunch some day I’ll do it when I get around to it Empty Promises Empty of Meaning

Empty Language Perpetuates Status Quo My boss hates me I can’t find anything in the Library I’ll do it when I get around to it

We call this Empty Language Swamp Talk It is the default way of talking It perpetuates the status quo It never changes anything It sucks you in

Designing Conversations A Landscape of Conversations What’s Wrong? rationalize – justify – excuse – deny (justification) opinions – criticisms – accusations – blame (judgment) complaints – expectations – hopes – wishes (entitlement) embellish - hearsay – rumor – gossip (dramatize) tolerate – acquiesce – victimhood – rebel (resignation) The Swamp (More of Same) What could be? commitments – stands – declarations (new possibilities) inquire – explore –imagine (invent) accept – forgive – apologize - acknowledge (complete) What will happen? offer – counter-offer – promise (commitment to action) invite – request – suggest – demand (request for action) New Future (New Possibilities) What’s so? hypothesis – assertions – assessments – conclusion (grounded descriptions) I see – I hear – I sense – I observe (external observation) I remember - I think – I believe – I feel (internal observation)) Dry Land Michael Johnston & Allan Cohen 2006

Landscape of Conversation What is the story we tell about the water cooler