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

2. Powerful Language Powerful Listening Powerful Requests Powerful Offerings Powerful Promises

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

4. Empty Promises Empty Threats Empty Predictions Empty Promises Empty of Meaning

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

10. 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

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