Secret ingredient of success: an open dialogue

What the talk is about

Ruslana Kruchek talks about open dialogue as a communication tool in work and business. She walks through her own research journey: from the meanings of "openness" and "dialogue" to an example of a community meeting in Africa, where everyone may speak without interruption and the whole group makes the decision. She contrasts "circular" and "rectangular" decision-making and warns about the risks: not everyone wants to change, openness can be used to manipulate, and people may see you as naive. She shares personal stories about a difficult discussion with an outside expert and about her own habit of pushing ideas aggressively. She closes with five steps: start with yourself, speak about your own feelings, choose your words carefully, assume good intent, and be brave. Useful for project managers, team leads and anyone who communicates a lot with colleagues and clients.