Community Agreements
“TRY IT ON”
You are invited to “try on” new ideas, or ways of doing things that might not be what you prefer or are familiar with.
PRACTICE SELF FOCUS
Practice speaking about your own experiences and refraining from speaking for a whole group or expressing assumptions about the experience of others.
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTENT AND IMPACT
Learning our ‘good’ intentions in speech and behavior can land with a negative impact for someone else. Denying the impact of something by focusing on intent is often more destructive than the initial interaction.
PRACTICE “BOTH/AND”
When speaking, substitute “and” for “but.” This practice acknowledges and honors multiple realities.
REFRAIN FROM BLAMING OR SHAMING SELF & OTHERS
Practice giving skillful feedback.
MOVE UP/MOVE BACK
Encourage full participation by all present. Take note of who is speaking and who is not. If you tend to speak often, consider “moving back” and vice versa.
PRACTICE MINDFUL LISTENING
Try to avoid planning what you’ll say as you listen to others. Be willing to be surprised, to learn something new. Listen with your whole self.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Take home learnings but don’t identify anyone other than yourself, now or later. If you want to follow up with anyone regarding something they said in this session, ask first and respect their wishes.
RIGHT TO PASS
You can say “I pass” if you don’t wish to speak.