Services
Fear + Less Not Fear-Less
It is nearly impossible to hold a hard, heartfelt conversation with an unlikely partner about a taboo subject without fear. Therefore, we conceive “fearless” as a compound word (“fear+less”) and not as a root word and suffix (“fear -less”). In the latter, the suffix “-less” implies being without fear. However, in the compound form, “less” connotes a smaller extent. We believe in a uniquely structured environment where fears are acknowledged, unlikely partners can take courage, fear+less and engage in hard, heartfelt conversation.
Our Approach
In brief, Fearless Dialogues retrains the eyes and ears of leaders to see gifts instead of stereotypes, and to hear value in the storied lives of others. From this shared space of meaning, where participants see and hear worth in others, the pump is primed for hard conversations and for cultivating hope that leads to sustainable change.
lessens anxiety, reduces power differences, and levels the playing field for hard conversations to occur.
including visual art, spoken word poetry, and live music, re-frame sterile and hostile environments into spaces for lively and engaging interaction.
Theory and research-based exercises (called 'experiments') heighten awareness, enhance vulnerable truth-sharing, and foster connections.
The Three Pillars
See. Hear. Change.
We believe that until you SEE a person as a whole being, you will be unable to HEAR the person’s story as valuable and potentially informative. Community members who do not see and hear each other as persons of worth are unable to collaborate and work toward CHANGE. Fearless Dialogues bridges the gap by creating spaces to see the invisible, hear the silenced, and work for change for self and other.
Theoretical Foundations
The teaching philosophy, methods, and practices of Fearless Dialogues derive from years of research on human communication, rapport building, and community development. The techniques of seeing, hearing, and changing employed in our training modules and community conversations are born out of extensive research in social psychology, constructive philosophy, sociolinguistics, solution-focused brief therapy, pastoral theology, conflict transformation, asset-based community development, mysticism, and human-centered design.
