Dialogue vs Discussion

David Bohm and Peter Senge's distinction between two modes of group conversation. Discussion is like ping-pong—people defend positions and try to win. Dialogue is exploratory—participants suspend assumptions, listen for collective meaning, and allow thinking to emerge that no individual could produce alone. Discussion is good for decisions; dialogue is good for understanding. Most organizations need more dialogue and less discussion, especially when facing complex, novel challenges.

When to use it

When dealing with complex, interconnected problems; when interventions keep failing; when small changes produce disproportionate effects; when predicting system behavior.

How it can help

Enables seeing the structural patterns beneath surface-level events. Helps leaders understand why interventions often fail and where to find genuine leverage for change.