About Us
Who are we?
‘Eindhoven in Dialogue’ is a citizens’ initiative that distinguishes itself by solely working with social capital. We as volunteers find the dialogue method to be inspiring and essential both for us and for society. For this reason, we are happy to commit ourselves to the cause. We take pride in giving the unforgettable experience of dialogues to as many people as possible! We only require a modest non-financial consideration (asynchronous reciprocity). If people or organizations have available space and a cup of coffee (with a cookie!) for us or they would like to design and/or print posters or pay the costs of a website, we appreciate that very much as it does relieve a lot of financial and administrative hassle. Doing the Dialogue challenges us to be creative, to keep costs low, and to make access for participants as easy as possible!
Since when, history
The birthplace of the Day of Dialogue is Rotterdam. After “nine-eleven” 2001 (remember: airplanes flying into the World Trade Centre in New York), the need to connect people from different backgrounds arises and the Dialogue method is formulated as an answer to this need. From this start, the Day of the Dialogue spreads to many cities, including Eindhoven, where the first day was organized in 2008. Dialogue in the Netherlands as a community is active since 2006. The need to connect people is higher than ever. Dialogue proves to be a powerful method to accomplish this connection.
What do we do?
Experience the dialogue
Each year we have several options to have a nice conversation, to experience the dialogue as an alternative for the debate:
– we have yearly in the beginning of November the Week of the Dialogue,
– we have monthly (last Thursday, 19.00-21.00) our Dialogue café @Fontys, Emmasingel 28, Eindhoven.
Other options can arise during the year:
– we have more and more dialogues before the Week of the Dialogue,
– we have monthly (first Thursday, 13.30-15.30) the Dialogue lunch @Vitalis, Kloosterdreef 23, Eindhoven.
Look regularly at this website, follow our social accounts or send us an email at: eindhovenindialoog@gmail.com.
What is a ‘dialogue’?
a conversation between two or more people
How do we do? The Dialogue Method
Each Dialogue session distinguishes 4 key factors: the theme, the 4 dialogue steps, the dialogue attitude, and the trained facilitator.
1) The dialogue steps, specific for Eindhoven in Dialogue:
- Getting acquainted based on the theme: which first association does it evoke in each participant?
- Sharing the best, personal, concrete experience. What did that experience bring you?
- Dreaming about the theme. Suppose you have that experience all the time, what does that (your dream) look like? We forget reality, suppose everything is allowed and possible, what do you see?
- Do: Which (small) step will each participant (actually) take to realize part of his or her dream?
2) The dialogue theme:
The theme of the dialogue varies depending on the occasion. Here are some examples during the years when the Day of Dialogue was held:
2014: Dare to share
2015: The choice is yours
2016: Feeling at home
2017: Fantastic failures
2018: Facing Your Future
2020: February 19: Unboxing yourself
2020: November 18: Turning the page
2021: December 1: Courage to connect
2022: Every Dialogue place chooses its theme
2023: Idem
3) The dialogue attitude. similar for each dialogue method:
• The group is responsible, and the conversation is pleasurable and safe. Be friendly and treat everybody with respect. What is shared is confidential — do not share names and personal stories.
• Be responsible for your feelings. Questions may be answered, but need not, if this doesn’t feel right.
• Give others the time to tell his/her story uninterrupted.
• Appreciate shared stories (do not judge).
• Investigate shared stories using open questions. Be curious, but avoid questions you would be hesitant to answer.
• Leave room for silence to think and formulate.
• Everybody deserves attention. Try and be concise to allow others time to share their stories.
• Share from your perspective.
4) The Dialogue Facilitator:
The dialogue facilitators are trained by us to ensure that the participants stick to the theme, the steps and the dialogue attitude! They have a guidebook they follow as facilitators to create a safe environment during each session.
Role of the guidebook
• Explain and maintain the dialogue theme and attitude.
• Highlight the Dialogue steps.
• Manage time, including breaks.
• Safeguard that everybody can speak and can be heard.
• Safeguard an inquisitive and safe atmosphere.
• Stimulate a personal, attentive conversation as well as a lighthearted conversation.
• Make sure the conversation finishes well for all participants.
Do you care to become a facilitator?
Anyone who wants to supervise conversation(s) can participate in our two training evenings in the month prior to the Week of Dialogue: October, at Fontys HRM and Psychology, in the Witte dame, Emmasingel 28, Eindhoven. The Week of Dialogue takes place every year in the first week of November, in Eindhoven at the various (online or) physical Dialogue locations. After the Dialogue week, we help people to continue dialogues regularly.
Why do we do?
Mission:
We aim to spread the dialogue as the better way of communication (better than the debate) and help people experience dialogues (every day, every week, every month, every year, the rest of their lives) in an impactful and inspirational way! ‘Eindhoven in Dialogue’ wants to develop people, who want to make meaningful connections through sharing positive experiences!
Vision:
Our vision is to work closely with Dialogue Places (not-for-profit organizations, initiatives, communities, networks), to train people related to Dialogue Places. Our network strives to continue (at least the annual Week of) the Dialogue in Eindhoven, where people can experience the importance behind our cause – connections, mutual understanding, respect and effective listening to others in the form of a ‘dialogue’!
Values:
1. At an individual level:
– The dialogue (LSD = Listen + Summarize + Discover, ask open questions) is an alternative to debate
– The appreciative, positive inquiry (in 4 steps) is an alternative to investigating problems
– The experience generates positive energy (phrasing the theme positively, asking positive questions about it and dealing positively with the answers ) is an alternative to generating negative energy (magnifying problems by giving that attention)
2. CONNECTION arises at a social level, which is essential for happiness
3. COHESION arises at a social level, a dialogue culture, the dialogue way of speaking becomes natural, automatic, normal, the norm.