Domains of conversation
Communication is essential for identifying issues, solving problems, making decisions, yet conversations can frequently get stuck making little progress. It can be frustrating when there is clearly energy in the group to engage with the issue, yet each person is talking to their own agenda, disconnected from other contributions.
A useful tool for working with these situations, to introduce more coherence and co-ordination, is domains of conversation. Essentially the idea is that conversation can be divided into three domains. These domains are present simultaneously in conversation, but for the purpose of introducing greater communicative clarity we can temporarily separate them out.
The three domains are those of aesthetics, production and explanation. When, in communication, we privilege the domain of aesthetics, we are concerned with issues of ‘fit’, for instance the fit between theory and practice, ethical issues, grace and elegance. When concentrating on the domain of production, we are concerned with ‘what to do’. The domain of explanation is concerned with understanding and creativity. By separating out each domain, each element of the conversation can be better heard and be used to inform the other. The quality of communication is improved and ‘stuck’ situations can start to become more fluid or flexible as new possibilities arise.
How does this work? This technique is particularly useful with large groups grappling with complex or long standing problems. Get the group to divide themselves into three groups around the domain that they wish to explore. Give each group specific instructions as to the ‘rules of conversation’ in their domain. So…
For those working in the domain of aesthetics, their main concern is ‘how does it feel?’ Their conversation is to be about issues of sensitivity and sensibility, of achieving coherence by exploring both/and ideas. They have a concern with ethics and elegance, beauty, form and fit. They may consider the purpose of ideas. They can make judgements ‘this feels better than that’. They are not to propose any action or be concerned about the question why.
Those working in the domain of explanation are concerned with ’what does it mean?’ They are encouraged to be divergent in their thinking, to move around the system considering different viewpoints, they are to be curious about people’s motives and explanation, they might explore metaphors used about the situation. They construct accounts and hypotheses that connect fragments of knowledge or information. They are in a creative zone. They do not give advice as to what should be done.
Those in the domain of production are allowed to talk ‘as if’ they
had certainty about issues. Theirs is a convergent conversation, concerned
with purpose, obligation and entitlement, structure, order and strategy.
Essentially they can make plans and offer advice.
The domain of aesthetics have their discussion first, with the other
groups listening, this conversation can be followed by that concerned
with explanation and then the domain of production.
After the exercise
you can proceed in various ways to help those involve reflect on what
they heard and how it is influencing their ideas of possibility
and appropriateness; encouraging them to remain in the domains of aesthetics
and explanations before returning to the domain of production ‘what
shall we do?”
This article was first published in Cymbal, the Central London Branch
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