Community Agreements
Checking Privilege, Sharing Space, Sharing Power
- Confidentiality. Do not share what is said in this session without permission of the group or individuals
- Make space, take space / Step up, step back.
- Impact and intent. Own your impact as much as your intent.
Creating Shared Understanding
- Be an active listener. Practice active listening that is focused on listening instead of preparing your response.
- Check accuracy. Ask questions that check the accuracy of your assumptions.
Building Trust
- Recognize when you are opening a sensitive discussion. Be aware and give a content warning if you are entering a sensitive or triggering topic.
- Ouch and educate in real time. State your feeling and explain (i.e. That feels hurtful because…).
- Don’t Yuck My Yum. When group members share their likes and dislikes, respect their personal opinions and preferences–do not shoot them down.
- Differ respectfully, knowing that respect does not equal politeness.
- Conflict happens and we require hard conversations. After a conflict is resolved we commit to revisit it and see how it might have been handled differently.
Hold each other accountable, both in the room and afterward.
- Offer Ideas and Be Proposal Based. When criticizing other people’s work and ideas, don’t just shoot them down. Instead offer an idea or be proposal based.
Personal Growth
- Emotions are okay – Probe what’s behind them instead of rushing past them (with self and with others)
- Be open and honest – Recognize that power dynamics may make it difficult for some to open up.
- Be present and minimize distractions.