Abstract

Facilitators in organization and community contexts (and other practitioners whose job it is to move groups of people forward together) are faced with the undercurrent of human conflict every day in meetings and gatherings around the world; often with limited access to an overarching tool to help prevent and manage conflict in most settings. The purpose of this paper was to uncover patterns in bridge building practices so that anyone who finds themselves in the role of facilitating conversations between people who are very different or do not like each other might lean into a set of practices that can aid in deepening trust among traditionally divided groups. The seven practices outlined here are intended for general use, although would most certainly require some form of adjusting depending on the specific setting, the nature of the conversation, the experience level of the facilitator, and the mindsets and readiness of participants.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Facilitated communication; Conversational repair; Trust; Organizational change

Date of Award

2023

School Affiliation

Graziadio Business School

Department/Program

Business

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Masters

Faculty Advisor

Christopher Worley

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