We proceed tackling the successful dialogue that is considered of great importance at our modern time. It should included exchanging experience and developing thinking and polishing one’s character. Good dialogue helps to generate innovative ideas.
A good dialogue should be:
Mixed with humor
Dell Carnegie once said that one should mix his dialogue with humor and make it natural. Funny words make us happy and help to create rapport of friendship between people. It also helps you to win their attention and love. H.H Pope Shenouda the third was keen on adding humor to his sermons and in his personal encounters with others. It added a feeling of joy and comfort in others’ hearts and encouraged others to participate in the conversation. Thus, do not be so gloomy while taking with others lest they feel you are ignoring them or rejecting their opinions. Remember that a smile is the only language understood by the whole world. It adds a beauty to the speaker and makes the conversation go smooth and devoid of any stress or stiffness.
Brief
As the saying goes, we linger the talk when we do not have any interesting thing to say. Stay focused and do not forget to organize your ideas. Do not distract your listener by discussing your ideas at length as it indicates lacking the ability of expression and bore the listener. Learn to choose the right words on the right time.
Respectful and Classy
Each person should respect other speakers and their opinions. Verbal or non verbal expressions should express your respect even if the others were wrong. H.H Pope Shenouda the third says, “Respect the opinions of others even if you are against them.” Disrespecting others’ opinions creates negative feelings that lead to abhorring the discussion and failure of the dialogue even before it starts along with losing the persons you are talking to. You should see through their eyes and understand their opinions and ideas to turn the dialogue to increase the quality of the dialogue and make it respectful and classy. It is better not to be engaged in any dialogue than ending the dialogue and turning your speakers to enemies.
Quiet
A constructive dialogue should be quiet and the speakers should keep calm and never raise their voices. The tone of your voice determines whether you are a steadfast person who is self-confident and believes in the logic behind your opinions. On the other hand, a weak person who does not believe in the logic behind his opinions would lose his temper and raise his voice. Hence, raising your voice has never indicated your victory over others in discussions or your powerful argument.
Fair:
A successful dialogue is enjoyed by fair persons who do not judge an opinion according to the personality of its holder nor are prejudiced against a specific idea or principle. Those people will support the truth without prejudice or hypocrisy.
Honest:
It involves discussing the facts of the situation honestly and openly. It does not involve depicting partial truth to mislead others. It also involves presenting right and accurate information of a specific topic and is led by an experienced person who knows all the details of that topic….to be continued
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
