The Teeming V Dialogue

The elegant V-shaped formation of migrating geese offers many lessons in collaboration. The point position sets the direction for the group and is the most arduous. This position is shared as the birds rotate up to give respite to those that have already borne the burden of the wind. The birds rely on both intuitive and visual cues, but only through the combination of the two do they successfully arrive at their destination. Each bird has an instinctive understanding of the group's destination, which can only be achieved through cooperation. They all get there together... or they don't arrive at all.

Like migrating geese, people, too, can go further thinking together than thinking alone. In collaborative dialogue, intuitive thinking merges with literal, practical thinking to produce highly inventive, yet simple solutions. People share leadership as well as a common sense of purpose. Diverse perspectives add value rather than conflict. Problems and issues become opportunities for profitable growth.

Collaborative dialogue provides a framework for effective systems thinking, aligns participants in a common purpose, and elicits simple initiatives to address important opportunities. We train both participants and facilitators in this specialized approach to collaborative thinking.