The Magic of Dialogue: Transforming Conflict into Cooperation

by Daniel Yankelovich

In this groundbreaking work, famed social scientist and world-famous public opinion expert Daniel Yankelovich reinvents the ancient art of dialogue.
Successful managers have always known how to make decisions and mobilize coworkers. But as our businesses continue to expand, conversations and discussions just aren't enough to bring people and their different agendas together anymore. Dialogue, when properly practiced, will align people with a shared vision, and help them realize their full potential as individuals and as a team. Drawing on decades of research and using real life examples, The Magic of Dialogue outlines specific strategies for maneuvering in a wide range of situations and teaches managers, leaders, business people, and other professionals how to succeed in the new global economy, where more players participate in decision-making than ever before.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Communication, Business Leadership, Psychology, Leadership

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 1999

Reviews

[Megan]

I enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on what makes dialogue meaningful, and I appreciated the distinction made between dialogue and debate. That being said, the book suffers from what I'm going to deem "business book syndrome" - as much a sales pitch as it is anything else - and a complete misreading of Buber's I and Thou. I don't think the misreading weakens Yankelovich's point, but it undermines his authority.

Buber's work of Jewish mysticism describes a dialectic relationship that transcends utilitarian purpose. Yankelovich speaks of the power of dialogue to achieve concrete, meaningful ends - those ends are important for practical reasons, but they undermine the sacred relationship that Buber describes. That's fine - Yankelovich does not seek sacred transcendence, he seeks practical solutions... but he and Buber are talking about very different things. Yankelovich misrepresents Buber to give his business book an intellectual sheen. The result is the opposite of his intention.

[Stephen]

READ APR 2022

Yankelovich does a nice job of describing the power (magic as he calls it) of dialogue and how it fits in modern societies. He provides 15 strategies and describes ten potholes that impact how effective we are with dialogue.

Best quotes:

"It is dialogue rather than factual analysis that most engages..." (pg. 27).

"Impersonal transactions cannot substitute for the deeper relationships for which people yearn, relationships based on mutual understanding." (pg. 31).

"Dialogue doesn't occur automatically; you have to make it happen." (pg. 76).

"The magic of dialogue is that it really does enhance respect and acceptance of others. Without dialogue, people stereotype one another in a manner that prevents mutual understanding and acceptance." (pg. 215).

[Edward]

作者在聊天、讨论与决策中间，划出了互相了解对方的过程，并定义为“对话”。将这个过程浮出来，是这本书最重要的价值。本书另一个重要观点，就是反对事实与价值观的二分法。

[Van]

Part of my MBA reading material. This book has a very simple lesson: dialog is two-way conversation.

[Kristina]

Highly recommend this book. Yankelvich does a nice job describing the difference between discussion vs dialogue. He gives great pointers on how to get people focused on dialoging to think creatively on a joint problem suspending judgement and evaluating each possibility.

[Janet]

Re-reading.

[Bjorn Peterson]

A very useful book for anyone involved in community dialogue endeavors.