Learning Moments

Could an unhurried conversation bring some ease to the work floor?

When I feel trapped in a meeting marathon and have too much work on my plate my instinct tells me to do the opposite. Stop running. Press the pause button. Step out. Slow down.

Mmmhh.

Or, and that might sound a bit funny, I long for an unhurried conversation.

Why another meeting? you might wonder.

Well, it’s not only stopping.
It is stopping and thinking.

And an unhurried conversation is an excellent opportunity to do exactly this: Stop and think.

I remember the unhurried conversation I had in November. It was one of those busy days. I felt ill, and my energy was low. Nevertheless, I joined as I knew that an unhurried conversation could bring some ease.

How is this possible?

I pressed ‘Join’ on my screen. Quite quickly I tuned into the rhythm of the conversation listening to what was shared. I remember grabbing the talking piece several times to add my thoughts. Our conversation was around the wicked questions of our busy time, the attention economy and the art of facilitating connections. It was once again a free-flowing thinking process weaving meandering discussion threads together. I left inspired and energized and posted this on LinkedIn. The post got quite a bit of attention. It seems my words resonated.

What is an Unhurried Conversation?

It’s an amazingly open conversation format with one or two very simple rules around turn-taking. No agendas. No introductions. Just people (mix of friends and strangers) meeting to talk. An art we might otherwise forget.

Tim Pilbrow, PhD

Tim mentions simple rules, e.g. uninterrupted speaking time through turn-taking, and speaking to the whole group without expectations of immediate answers. The structured process leaves ample freedom to explore what matters. It often lasts for about one hour. Some conversations have a topic, others do not; whatever emerges at that very moment is fine. It needs light facilitation only.

Want to know more? Click here and find the guidelines: https://www.unhurried.org/conversations

Inquiry and serendipity

You could think of an Unhurried Conversation as a counterbalance to the rushed working reality. The benefit is manyfold:

• Taking turns influences the rhythm of the conversation; it will be slower, more relaxed, and without pressure to deliver.
• The quality of listening increases. Being an attentive listener is as important as contributing. Everyone is heard, seen, and respected.
• It changes the quality of the conversation to an open-ended inquiry and genuine dialogue.
• There can even be serendipitous moments when thoughts and ideas are woven together and connected. 
• The conversation nurtures a group on all levels. It creates a sense of belonging.
• You might need fewer meetings, in the end.

Ready to try?

Call for one hour of Unhurried Conversation with your team. Try, and see what happens. Even when it might require a bit of courage at first. 

Or if you have never experienced one join one, with Johnnie Moore (the founder of Unhurried Conversation), Tim Pilbrow, and me. The next one is taking place on Monday 13th of February 2023. It is free, you can sign up here.

Related stories

• The Magic of an Unhurried Conversation – an After Reflection
• Unhurried meetings and workshops in hurried times – or how do we spend precious time together
• Serendipitous online conversation on Zoom – an experience