Dialogue in the Dark! Formosa Pharma’s In-Depth Dialogue & Listening
02/08/2025
As part of its commitment to corporate sustainability, Formosa Pharmaceuticals has integrated ESG principles into its operations and organized a Dialogue in the Dark (DiD) workshop for employees. This initiative promotes employee well-being and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 – Quality Education. As a leader in ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, the company also used this opportunity to reflect on effective communication, collaboration through diverse perspectives, and breaking mental barriers.
Held on a designated working Saturday, the entire Formosa Pharma team took part in this immersive experience. Dialogue in the Dark is a globally recognized social enterprise originating from Germany’s Dialogue Social Enterprise (DSE) and licensed in Taiwan. Participants are guided through a completely dark environment by visually impaired facilitators. The experience is designed to help participants confront the challenges of navigating without sight, recognize blind communication spots, and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others.
Inside the darkroom, employees were led through a series of tasks that required active listening and teamwork. Deprived of vision, participants were encouraged to re-evaluate assumptions, approach problems from new angles, and discover alternative methods of execution. Afterward, a reflection session was held in a lit room where team members shared their thoughts and insights. While each participant had a unique takeaway, many noted a common realization: even in a bright, visible environment, unseen blind spots in communication persist, and the visually impaired offer profound wisdom and inspiration for overcoming them.
Colleagues expressed how the workshop helped them rediscover the importance of listening and teamwork. The dark environment created a rare opportunity to focus solely on auditory cues, free from daily distractions. Participants realized that communication often defaults to habitual patterns, lacking empathy or perspective-taking. The darkness revealed these communication blind spots and offered a rare chance for personal and collective growth.
Though darkness may represent uncertainty, it also fosters inner clarity. The four-hour workshop felt surprisingly brief, as many entered a state of flow. One participant shared, “In the dark, we don’t only feel fear or drowsiness — we can become more inclusive and sensitive.” After the event, relationships between supervisors and team members grew closer, and the spirit of mindful communication carried back into the workplace. This journey deepened our empathy and strengthened our ability to consider others’ perspectives, allowing us to walk more closely with stakeholders on the path toward a sustainable ESG future.
