Curiosity Over Clash

How to have constructive conversations by Julia Dhar
March 1, 2021

In a time of great political, social, and cultural divisiveness, how can we in fact have productive conversations? In her TED Salon talk entitled “How to have constructive conversations,” Julia Dhar, a world debate champion, challenges the listener to consider the ways in which centering the progress of conversation over the pursuit of victory leads to sustainable construction within a conversation. Primarily using the personal narrative of observing her Australian father’s nature while navigating life in the United States, Dhar presents three functional habits of mind in order to facilitate constructive conversations: choosing curiosity over clash, understanding that conversation is a climbing wall and not a cage fight, and knowing that progress can be made over time when anchored in the purpose of the conversation. Dhar reminds the listener that constructive conversations are not “one-shot” deals; instead, they are opportunities to listen, take perspective, adapt practice, and ultimately learn with others. This TED Talk offers the listener the opportunity to reflect while juxtaposing key strategies to enact curious conversations that ultimately bend the arc of the work of educators and leaders toward progressive conversation.