ABSTRACT
The Art of Dialogue is not the same thing as the Art of Persuasion, although very often the latter is misrepresented as dialogue. Active listening entails the listener taking responsibility for checking and clarifying those ideas and messages that are unclear. One of the obvious obstacles to active listening and openness is a lack of trust in the other. Oftentimes an interpretation of the history of the relationship between the dialoguing parties will inhibit the attitudes of openness, trust and respect necessary for change to take place. While already noting that fear can be a paralysing obstacle to dialogue, a certain amount of healthy respect and awareness of the other as other can be a highly motivating factor. Getting the balance between stasis and homeostasis, conservation and renewal should be an ongoing process whose positive tension should help to ensure the continuation of the institution as well as dialogue among its individual members.
