| Our aim in initiating the orientation course to support dialogue at all levels without engaging in dogmatic teaching and to create a place where the traditional constellation of teachers and students is abandoned, where asking questions is just as important as looking for and finding answers. Everyone is invited, regardless of their culture or their
background.
Focal element is a culture of dialogue, a "school of democracy" (Helm Stierlin), which supports new (non-violent) conflict solutions and new forms of
co-operation. A culture of dialogue is characterised by the interaction of the following
characteristics/guidelines:
Prerequisites:
- free will
- author-ity (= authorship of one's own ideas and actions), being rooted in one's own point of view, being ready to engage in continuous self-critical reflection (trust, self-awareness, honesty, authenticity)
- omni-validity: avoiding sole or universal validity, simplification, categorization, prejudice, ignorance, dominance, discrimination, missionization; accepting (absolute) truths and their objectivity
- being ready to learn, showing ability to be critical and master conflicts
- being aware of how imperfect, incalculable, unforeseeable and uncontrollable dialogues are, trusting in their inherent dynamics
- having a sense of humour
Ways:
- being careful, using language consciously and disarmingly
- developing a culture of dispute (dialogic, not dialectic): accepting contradictions and controversies, enduring tensions
- being respectful, recognizing and appreciative of the uniqueness and individuality of others, being open for their argumentations and points of view
- giving up anonymity, being visible, committed, showing oneself
- being curious, showing a keen interest, being attentive, listening to others
- relating to others, showing sympathy and sensitivity
- having the courage to be referred to and be touched
A dialogue is carried on:
- with oneself, to regain one's own vision of life, to rediscover one's own truth and to become aware of one's past
- within the group, with companions on the way, colleagues, teachers, coaches
- with role models who have realized their potential and are ready to set incentives
- with superiors and peers, to make one's own potential available to the company, institution, etc.
Additional assistance will be provided by the following methods, amongst others:
- coaching
- mediation
- systemic thinking and acting
- neurolinguistic programming
- mentoring
>The Course>
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