Dialectic - McGeough · For the duration of the Dialectic programme, participants have access by...
Transcript of Dialectic - McGeough · For the duration of the Dialectic programme, participants have access by...
Dialectic
McGeough Training Limited
THE AUTHENTIC SOCRATIC METHOD
2014 - 2015 PROGRAMMES
THE REAL DRIVER OF CHANGE
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I would trade
all of my technology for
an afternoon with Socrates.
STEVE JOBS
The Classroom of The Future, Newsweek, 2001.
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Why Dialectic? For the past 25 years I have gone into organisation after organisation,
addressing all sorts of problems related to managing people,
communication and effecting change, and I am entirely convinced that
the key to resolving all of these difficulties is Dialectic.
So much more than mere question and answer, the Socratic method, or
“The Art of Dialectic” as Socrates called it, is a comprehensive approach
to managing ourselves and navigating us through our daily interactions
with others. Its ability to shift mindsets and illuminate our thought
processes has stood the test of time for over 2,000 years.
I earnestly believe that it is the master key in driving change, in
particular because of its capacity to:
- Free us from our assumptions and challenge fixed thinking
- Remove limiting ideas which impede performance and prevent action
- Move us beyond vested interests, silos and “my patch” mentalities
- Make us more reasonable, more open and less fearful
- Create an environment where innovation and creativity flourish
Socrates never doubted the capacity of Dialectic to free us from our fixed
positions and habitual ways of doing things, indeed it is the only thing
that can do this effectively.
I am very happy to announce the launch of the Dialectic programme. I
believe it will be of profound consequence to managers and will mark a
turning point in how they engage with people and get things done.
BRIAN McGEOUGH
McGeough Training Limited
Brian McGeough .
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The Dialectic skill set is remarkably transferable. It is for this
reason that we find its application to be effective in so many
fields across generations, from the corporate boardroom to the
rugby pitch, from ancient Greece to the 21st century.
Shifts Thinking & Positions
Raises people out of ingrained and habitual ways
of thinking.
Highlights unexamined beliefs and assumptions
and safeguards against people becoming fixed on
their own view of something.
Challenges the Status Quo
Cultivates a spirit of enquiry, openness and
curiosity.
Safeguards against complacency and the
'repeating the past' mentality.
Leads people to examine their attitudes, thinking
and behaviour.
Improves Performance
Drives continuous improvement.
Develops mental agility and ‘quickness’ of mind.
Brings people to take ownership and
responsibility.
Strengthens capacity for independent thought,
reasoning and analysis.
Builds strength of character, confidence that is
independent of circumstance.
Fosters integrity and cultivates humility.
Unlocks Innovation & Creativity
Creates a space for reflection and re-
examination allowing new insights to arise.
Shifts stagnation and paralysis and creates a
window for innovation and creativity.
Eliminates Small-mindedness
Dissolves cliques, silo thinking and ‘protecting my
patch’ attitudes.
Moves people beyond private agendas, egos and
vested interests towards a more expansive
perspective
Minimises unhelpful behaviour, negativity, point-
scoring and one-upmanship.
Dispels Fear & Resistance
Creates a non-threatening environment where
sensitive issues can be addressed fully and
people are not afraid to speak.
Dispels resistance and reluctance and fosters
willing engagement and active participation.
The Benefits
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More than a method of discourse and far more than mere
question and answer, Dialectic is an approach, a way of
operating which can be activated in every single task and
interaction, from the mundane to the extraordinary, from the
private to the professional, either effectively by oneself or with
groups of people.
...to the Boardroom From the Canteen...
Where can we use Dialectic? Facilitating meetings
Managing people and performance
Problem solving
Educating and informing
Innovating- “Thinking outside the box”
Fostering creativity, brainstorming etc.
Building unity and agreement
Clarifying ideas, concepts & situations.
Decision making
Analysis, assessment and review
Planning and strategising
Addressing issues of performance with an
individual
Identifying needs, strengths and gaps.
Fostering accountability
Leadership & bringing people with us
Managing & implementing change
Bringing clarity and focus to a discussion or
meeting.
Eliminating negligence
Training and developing people
Deepening understanding and building capacity
Building self-reliance and confidence
Conflict resolution and mediation
Communicating around sensitive subjects or
challenging issues.
Facilitating dialogue between conflicting parties.
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The better the questions we ask,
the better the answers we get.
JAMES KERR
“Legacy: What the All Blacks can teach us about the business of life”
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The culmination of over 25 years of experience and research,
with input from leading authorities in the field of Platonic
study, McGeough Training Ltd has designed a programme
which, for the first time, brings people through the principles
and skills of the Dialectic method, enabling individuals to
incorporate the approach into their personal and professional
lives.
A Practical Training Programme
ONE OF THE ONLY PROGRAMMES OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.
Who should attend?
Senior management up
to and including CEO
and Board level.
“Socrates challenged everyone he
met and shook them out of their
fixed ideas and beliefs through his
relentless dialectical activity.
Through the work of Plato we can
understand how he did this and
recapture the process for
ourselves.” DR. DAVID HORAN
Plato Centre, Trinity College Dublin
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Programme Outline The programme consists of 12 workshops presented over 6 months as follows:
SESSION 1
Essentials of Socratic Dialectic Introduction and programme overview
Dialectic: a comprehensive system with many strands
How we are with people vs. using techniques on people
The aim of all communication—what is it that we want?
Rising above argument and counterargument
The two essential rules of Socratic Dialectic
Raising all communication to the highest level - how?
Creating willingness to engage in any topic under any
circumstance
Practical exercises and directions
SESSION 3
Speech That’s Listened To A review and report on the practical exercises
For whose sake do we speak?
The impact our speech has on others.
Does our speech uplift or dishearten?
The damaging effects of ‘force’ in speech
The art of Dialectic questioning - Introduction
Practical exercises and directions
SESSION 5
From Assumptions to Wisdom A review and report on the practical exercises
Operating beyond assumptions - how?
Attributing motives or intentions where there are none
Overcoming doubt and dissolving confusion
Admitting our errors without justification or defence
Bringing hindsight wisdom to present situations
Distinguishing wisdom from consensus - steering clear of
the crowd mentality
Practical exercises and directions
SESSION 2
The Master Key A review and report on the practical exercises
Knowing yourself vs. Knowing about yourself
Developing ourselves - addition or subtraction?
Eliminating habitual communication traits and
behaviours which are unhelpful
The master key to effective communication and
interactions with others
A daily practical exercise for improving mindfulness
The strength in being willing to be proved wrong
Removing obstacles to intelligence and creativity
Practical exercises and directions
SESSION 4
The Dialectic Process A review and report on the practical exercises
Defining and clarifying issues and problems correctly
The need for precision and objectivity
Benefits of having an authentic sense of ‘not knowing’
Moving from multiplicity to unity
Eliminating conflicts caused by different
understandings of the same word or concept
Waking up to variations in how different people
perceive the same issue or situation.
The chief obstacles—I know and I’m right
Practical exercises and directions
SESSION 6
Persuasion & Influence A review and report on the practical exercises
What are we persuaded by?
How to persuade others?
Introducing Rhetoric - the good and the bad
The difference between reasoning and disputing
Exploring argument and counterargument
When to use Rhetoric vs. Dialectic?
Practical exercises and directions
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Programme Outline
SESSION 7
The Art of Dialectic Listening A review and report on the practical exercises
Listening so that nothing is ever lost - how?
Improving our listening skills
Overcoming the obstacles to effective listening
The difference between knowledge and opinion
True and false opinion
Opinion of the best, not of the many
Practical exercises and directions
SESSION 9
The Art of Dialectic Questioning A review and report on the practical exercises
“All learning is recollection” - So what?
Developing the art of asking the right questions
Socratic Questioning vs. Interrogation
Meeting people where they are - how?
Cultivating an enquiring mind - how?
Attention to the means vs. Attachment to results
Developing attention and the capacity to follow
Practical exercises and directions
SESSION 11
Engaging with Individuals A review and report on the practical exercises
Addressing difficult issues with individuals
Application of the Dialectic principles and skills
Creating a template to assist with Dialectic
Discovering how other people see situations
Enquiring rather than telling / lecturing
Highlighting some erroneous ideas that prevent us from
addressing issues on time
Encouraging responsibility and accountability
Practical exercises and directions
SESSION 8
Fearlessness A review and report on the practical exercises
“Fear is of the unknown” — Ignorance or wisdom?
Dissolving the many myths about fear
Overcoming fear within oneself
Bringing truthfulness and integrity into speech
Speaking without rehearsal - how?
Integrity and creating a platform of trust not fear
Practical exercises and directions
SESSION 10
Personal Mastery A review and report on the practical exercises
Being self-controlled rather than controlled by others
Developing unshakeable composure and internal strength
Compassion without sentimentality?
Confidence independent of circumstance
Exploring the link between personal mastery and humility
Freedom from negativity and taking offence
Cultivating a ‘blame free’ approach
Practical exercises and directions
SESSION 12
Engaging with Groups A review and report on the practical exercises
Application of dialectic principles and skills
Functional and behavioural aspects of meetings
An effective approach to ensure full participation
Reduce time-wasting behaviour at meetings
Dialectic vs. consensus or compromise as a method for
decision making
Practical Action Plan & Review
An exercise that highlights the particular areas that we need to
focus on moving forward
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Programme Duration & Format
This is a 6 month programme which consists of 12 workshops (11 half-days + 1 Full Day) presented
twice monthly. The timing of the half-day workshops is 9am - 1pm, and the full day is 9am—5pm.
Individual Support
For the duration of the Dialectic programme, participants have access by telephone and email to the
programme facilitator. In addition, each participant has the option to schedule two 1.5 hour coaching
sessions with the facilitator.
Group Size
Numbers are limited to a maximum of 12 participants.
Fees
€5,750 per participant. The fee includes:
- The programme of twelve workshops
- All programme materials
- Two individual coaching sessions
- All refreshments
Practical Details
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
SEPT 2014 OCT 2014 NOV 2014 JAN 2015 FEB 2015 MAR 2015
10th 24th 8th 22nd 5th 19th 14th 28th 11th 25th 11th 25th
Dates
September 2014 Commencement:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
JAN 2015 FEB 2015 MAR 2015 APR 2015 MAY 2015 JUN 2015
15th 29th 12th 26th 12th 26th 16th 30th 14th 28th 11th 25th
January 2015 Commencement:
In House Delivery
This programme can be provided in house by request.
Location
Dublin, Ireland. Participants will be notified of the venue prior to the programme.
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Contact & Booking
Our tailored solutions help organisations to achieve results that
require changes in attitudes, thinking and behaviour. From
working with individuals to driving organisation-wide
transformation, whether it be restoring a dysfunctional situation
to good health or facilitating the search for excellence, the scope
and nature of our work is as diverse as our range of clients.
For more information please visit our website: www.mcgeough.ie
About us
© McGeough Training Limited 2014. All Rights Reserved. No part of this
document may be copied or redistributed without the express
permission of the publisher.
Booking a Place
To reserve your place please contact Valerie on 01 6606677 or by email at [email protected]
Alternatively you can download the booking form here: www.mcgeough.ie/booking.pdf
Please note that places are limited.
Contact
If you would like to discuss this programme or if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to
contact us.
Tel: +353 (0)1 6606677 Email: [email protected]
McGeough Training Limited.
19 Pembroke Road
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4
© McGeough Training Limited.
19 Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Tel: +353 (0)1 6606677 | Email: [email protected] | Web: www.mcgeough.ie
“I am convinced that Dialectic provides us with the most
practical means for dealing with the challenges and
difficulties we encounter when engaging with people and
seeking to effect change.”
- BRIAN McGEOUGH