It’s All Greek to Me
Democracy, drama, & learning through dialogue
Democracy, theater, and Socratic debate developed in the same city - only decades apart.
That’s not an accident. In the 5th and 6th centuries BCE, the Greeks of Ancient Athens engaged in political, artistic, and philosophical revolution.
Tyrants wielding singular power gave way to citizens sharing political agency.
A Greek chorus telling one story gave way to several characters presenting several points of view.
Oracles spouting axioms gave way to philosophers asking questions and debating ideas.
Autocracy to democracy. Monologue to dialogue. Doctrine to discussion.
What do these have in common?
Democracy, theatre, and Socratic seminars rely on the same fundamental idea:
One point of view isn’t enough. Two voices are better than one.
The most innovative and inspiring ideas are forged in shared dialogue, enhanced through intentional engagement with alternative views, and driven by practical curiosity and open-minded action.
Join the dialogue
Dialogue is hard.
In today’s fast-paced and complex world, change projects tend to bypass genuine co-creation in favor of efficient implementation and a unified strategy.
But dialogue in change builds trust, cultivates belief, and aligns strategy with innovation.
How can you incorporate dialogue and co-creation into your transformation projects?
Ask for input early and feedback often Nothing gets a conversation going like true collaboration. Bringing your ecosystem into the design phase of your change is a great way to set the tone early. Who can you invite to sit at the table?
Build listening systems Change dialogue isn’t just about design. It’s also about collaborating during implementation. Things like office hours, readiness surveys, and FAQs formally include dialogue in the change navigation roadmap and give people the opportunity to engage with change leaders whenever they need.
Host ideation sessions Your most valuable experts are the people closest to the work: they know what works, what doesn’t, the pain points, and the opportunities. A structured ideation session can help you identify targeted solutions to key change issues. How will you implement what the experts have to say?
Verbalize the nonverbal Is your most reliable team member suddenly not answering emails? Are weekly standups suddenly just a little more tense? Sometimes people don’t even realize they are nervous or confused about a change until they start to talk about it. Starting a dialogue about nonverbal cues helps bring subconscious resistance to light. Your team will appreciate your empathy, and you can get everyone re-aligned for success.
Communicate information and invite engagement Sometimes, a dialogue just isn’t possible. You can’t exchange ideas over an org-wide email or during a town hall. But you can use those larger platforms to promote dialogue in smaller venues. Whenever you broadcast information to a big audience, how can you invite them to engage later with questions, concerns, or ideas?
Dialogue isn’t easy.
It takes courage.
It takes patience.
It takes listening to listen, not just to talk next.
The end result?
Deeper understanding, better output, and stronger collaboration for everyone.
Ready to continue the conversation?
We want to hear what you’re currently in dialogue with – what's challenging and inspiring you today?