Actually a microphone could be used as a talking stick, but it has more ancient and venerable origins ... see http://www.acaciart.com/stories/archive6.html . 

Using a talking stick feels a bit "quaint" in corporate board rooms, but the intention -- to slow the pace of dialogue so that it's more thoughtful and allows time for deeper listening -- is the same as the validation step in the DM listening cycle.

As for how I start using DM, I make sure there's a brief introduction at the beginning that includes my asking for permission to "interrupt" the discussion in order to (gesturing at the display) validate the map.  Then I just start mapping.  In most cases people get the idea and "go along" with it. 

Also, I take on the role of translating people's comments into the IBIS structure ... that's my job as the dialogue mapper.  And, again, I need to validate that translation as we go, so that the group has ownership of the map.

Cheers,
Jeff

At 10:11 AM 3/8/2006, you wrote:

What is a talking stick? A microphone?

Can you say a little about how you START using Compendium or any
dialogue mapping in meetings? Do you ask for or get consensus before
starting or do you just do it privately and wait till folks notice and
ask to see what you have captured?

Dialogue mapping needs to find and record questions and ideas which are
cleansed of unwanted complications. Questions need to have solutions
and pre-judgements removed. Ideas need to have arguments for and
against them moved to Pros and Cons. Pros and Cons need to be separated
into single aspect notes. Do you have effective techniques to get
participants to understand these needs or do you take on that
responsibility by yourself?

Dick


On 2006, Mar 8, , at 8:04, Turning Lead into Gold wrote:

> I'm going to echo Jeff Conklin's position - 'use what works'. I too
> though use Compendium in each engagement - having made the switch from
> indented lists to QuestMap some years ago. I would add  that the speed
> I
> work at gives everyone time to think about (reflect on) their issues,
> ideas, etc. in much the same manner as working with a Talking Stick.
> Given time to formulate their thoughts, the 'arguments' are much more
> lucid - and richer...

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Dr. Jeff Conklin
CogNexus Institute ... Collaborative Display, Collective Intelligence
http://cognexus.org Phone: 707-256-3425  Fax: 707-256-3903
1037 Juarez St., Napa, CA  94559    USA