We often gather to “dialogue” under chandeliers, around high tables, and behind nameplates that scream status, not solidarity. We say the meeting is inclusive, but the seating arrangement tells another story.
What if the very way we sit is part of the problem?
In spaces meant to heal wounds, shape futures, and rebuild trust, formality often becomes a barrier. The high table elevates not just bodies, but egos. The protocols silence the vulnerable before they even speak. The introductions, loaded with titles, create invisible lines between “experts” and “experiencers.” We cannot claim to empower people while physically placing them beneath others.
True dialogue is not a performance. It is a practice of humility.
It begins when everyone walks into the room as equals. No reserved seats. No ceremonial welcomes. Just a circle, because in a circle, no one sits at the head.
When we remove the rituals of power, something profound happens: people speak from the heart. They listen without fear. They ask questions without shame. Participation becomes real, not orchestrated.
If we want honest engagement, we must strip away the symbolism of control. The shape of the room, the flow of conversation, even the tone of our voice, these are tools of inclusion or exclusion.
So let’s start designing spaces that tell the truth we claim to believe:
That every voice matters. That dignity is not reserved for the few. That real change begins where everyone feels seen, heard, and equal.