Dialogic practice: Garavan's six steps

Dialogic practice is about entering into conversations with curiosity and uncertainty, instead of solutions, certainty and outcomes. In their six steps, Garavan outlines how practitioners should consider: 

• Purpose. 
• Principles. 
• Goals. 
• Assumptions. 
• Methodology. 
• Requirements. 

Ali Gardner outlines the six steps and talks about the factors that should be considered when using this tool. In this webinar, Ali talks about how we need to think about mindset over method when considering approaches, and why emotion should be considered alongside skills-based approaches as we think about courageous conversations. 

Talking points 

This video looks at: 

• The role of courage and daring to show vulnerability. 
• How it fits with strengths-based approaches and humanistic principles. 
• How it can give clarity at moments of high emotion. 
• How questions can be used to allow people into dialogue. 
• The role of the expert and moving them out of the driving seat and into the passenger seat. 

Resources that are mentioned in this video 

• Difficult conversations in social care: Frontline Briefing

Related resources 

• Embedding strengths-based practice: Frontline Briefing
• Non-violent communication
• Strengths-based working: Learning Pathway 
• Strengths-based practice: Brief Guide 
• Supporting strengths-based practice in social care teams 

Reflective questions 

Here are reflective questions to stimulate conversation and support practice:

1. Are there changes that you might need to make to your mindset in order to apply the six steps effectively? 
2. How can your organisation support practitioners to use emotion effectively? 
3. How can you use questions to allow people to move into dialogue with you? 
4. How can you move into a more facilitative role when working with people?