The purpose of dialogue is to foster deep listening and understanding between two people. If successful, it allows one person to begin to see and sense the world as the other does.

In dialogue, we momentarily suspend judgment but remain present and rational. It is not therapy, theater, debate, or mediation. It does not have a prescribed outcome, agenda, or formal structure.

The keys to the dialogue process are common sense and common courtesy.

• At the beginning of each session, the facilitator will tell participants
  exactly what the session’s time frame, objectives, and tasks are—if there are any.
  
  
• It is the facilitator’s responsibility to ensure that each participant is given a chance to speak and be heard.
  
  
• It is the facilitator’s responsibility to immediately stop all inappropriate behavior. This includes vulgar or crude language, emotional outbursts, scapegoating, etc.
  
  
• Each participant is responsible for his or her behavior.
  
  
• Each participant will disconnect all beepers and signaling devices before
  entering a scheduled dialogue.
  
  
• Each participant will respect others’ opinions and comfort levels. Basically, do unto others as you would like others to do unto you.
  
  
• Each participant’s personal life is private and not open to discussion.
  
  
• Each participant will speak only for himself or herself—not on behalf of others.
  
  
• Each participant understands that a dialogue is not confidential. Assume that others will learn, either correctly or incorrectly, what was said.