An Ethos of Conversation

One of the greatest feelings of connection with others can come as a result of meaningful conversations with people who may be significant to you in any number of ways, or with someone you may never see again.

How often do you talk – really talk – not only to loved ones and close friends, but to people you don’t know, and people who might be not-like-you? How often have you had an experience like those of Dave Pollard in Conversations That Matter?

How often to we get to engage in deep conversation, especially with those with whom we might differ, in the spirit of Koinonia?

I want to introduce you to the concept of Conversare, which is described by one of its key proponents and ‘professional conversationalist’, Dr Alan Stewart, as ‘a way of bringing people together to interact quite differently from how we do usually – by engaging in lively conversation, mainly with someone you may not know, in public places’.

‘Conversare’ is a different kind of conversation that might happen at a party, or at a business networking event (especially if there are other subtle agendas or politics going on there). It’s certainly different to interactions we might have had at school or work, where someone else is controlling the agenda or dominating the discussion, or where we are expected to keep quiet so others can talk at us.

In his article The Art of a Lively Conversation, Alain de Botton notes that perhaps part of the reason there has been a decline in the art and practice of conversation is that we assume conversational skills are inherent, not something worked on and developed:

Botton goes on to discuss how the art of conversation was reinvigorated in the 18th century Parisian salons of the French aristocracy and haute bourgeoisie, drawing on the traditions established in Ancient Greece:

Fed up with the idle chatter of the court at Versailles, where the talk centered relentlessly on who had shot what and in which forest, they wanted to make their homes into the spiritual descendants of Socrates’ dining room…

Guests had to arrive with a number of conversational topics and explore them with the same rigor as a scholar in a library, except that rather than consulting books, the other guests were to provide the insights. Examples of fitting topics included: What is the wisest way to approach one’s own death? Can governments make us good or only obedient?

There are distinct parallels here with the idle and mundane chatter of the court, and its 21st century incarnation of gossip, superficial social media exchanges, reality TV and celebrity news.

Conversation skills have also become limited by the notion that talking is only for conveying useful information and practical knowledge, or for argument and debate.

In his mini-book Time to converse at the heart of human warmth, Stewart cautions that ‘conversing’ should not be confused with ‘debating’:

Conversing involves talking without needing the answers you wanted, and interacting without anyone trying to control the direction or outcome of a conversation.

Conversing and debating are two very different approaches and mindsets, which create different dynamics and potential pathways for action:

Conversing <-> Debating

• finding common ground <-> winning
• searches for basic agreements, strengths in other positions <-> searches for glaring differences, weaknesses in other positions
• is collaborative – two or more sides work together toward a common understanding <-> is confrontational – two sides oppose each other and try to prove each other wrong
• assumes many people have pieces of the answer, and that together they can put them into a workable solution <-> assumes that there is a right answer, and someone has it
• listens to understand, find meaning <-> listens to find flaws, counter argument
• involves a concern for the other person and seeks not to alienate or offend <-> involves a countering of other positions without focusing on feelings; often belittles or deprecates the other person
• enlarges, possibly changes, participant’s point of view <-> reaffirms participant’s own point of view
• one submits one’s best thinking, knowing other people’s reflections will help improve rather than destroy it <-> one submits one’s best thinking, and defends against challenge to show that it is right
• opens the possibility of reaching a better solution than any of the original solutions <-> defend one’s own position as the best solution and excludes other solutions
• calls for temporarily suspending one’s beliefs <-> calls for investing wholeheartedly in one’s beliefs
• reveals assumptions for re-evaluation <-> defends assumptions as truth
• introspection on one’s own position <-> critique of others’ position
• whatever is contributed is of potential value <-> careful about saying anything that may be attacked, about being personally vilified
• opportunity to speak from the heart <-> draws mainly on intellectual, rational skills
• creates an open-minded attitude – an openness to being wrong, and an openness to change <-> creates a close-minded attitude – a determination to be right
• implies a conversation remains open-ended <-> implies a conclusion

Observe the discussions you see around you – in your personal life, at work, in the public arena – how often do you see conversation rather than debate? The latter is great for ratings and headlines, not so good for forging paths forward.

To initiate conversing, Stewart suggests questions like ‘What is interesting to you at the moment?’ and ‘What are you trying to accomplish?’ He likens conversation to jazz, where it starts with conventional elements and then incorporates improvisation.

Outcomes of conversing may include:

• new knowledge is generated, horizons are expanded
• local knowledge is uncovered or expressed
• relationships begin and are sustained
• questions are unsuppressed, brought into the open for consideration
• attitudes and feelings are transformed
• participants feel excited and energised
• people feel included, feelings of trust are nurtured

Debate certainly has its place, but if we are trying to find a way forward from a starting point of different perspectives, the dominance of debate undermines this process.

What if we put at least as much effort into becoming as good at conversation as we do debate? What if a greater percentage of our exchanges were conversing?

What would we be able to achieve if we could engage with others using an ethos of conversation rather than debate?

It is critical that we encourage and support the skills and practice of conversation, especially in times when we have huge challenges to address that are being stymied by inability to find a lack of common ground and a way to talk together.