You will learn critical interfaith dialogue skills including how to . . .

▪ Appreciate others’ beliefs

▪ Listen without thinking of what to say, not just wait to speak

▪ Display your convictions in a way that opens up conversation

▪ Talk straight – express what you think and feel in a manner that invites others to do the same

▪ Suspend judgment

Goals . . .

1. Practice interfaith dialogue

2. Acquire 3 immediately applicable dialogue skills:
  a) Displaying – speaking in a way that opens up conversation and builds commitment
  b) Listening without thinking of what to say – not just waiting to speak
  c) Straight talk – expressing what you think and feel in a manner that doesn’t build
         defenses and invites others to do the same

3. Learn something new about dialogue as a specific communication discipline

4. Discover how to open, hold and close a dialogue

Following the training you will be encouraged to meet weekly, for 6-8 weeks in
interfaith dialogue groups to continue to sharpen your dialogue skills.

The training will be conducted by Dr. J. Jeffrey Spahn, an educator, executive coach and designer of a dialogue based Leaders Leading Leaders® program for executives, drawing upon disciplines and insights from business and philosophy, arts and athletics and science and spirituality. His clients include Motorola Inc., American Funds Distributors Inc, ServiceMaster, FMC Corp and Steelcase Inc. Jeff received his doctorate from the University of Chicago Divinity School.