Dialogue Agreements
Follow Up
Divisive conversations on controversial issues are often fast-paced and shaped by provocative slogans.
Participants often interrupt
each other, competing for the floor.
Our divided times truly need respectful and healing exchange.
Yet, at the same time...
they also need our honesty,
intentionality and
frankness around painful issues.
Communication Agreements can support us to create a space that allows both:
Frankness and Respect
Honesty and Safety
Challenge and Healing
It starts with you.
Your openness.
Your transparency.
Your care.
Then you can support establishing group agreements.
Firstly, remember that the Trustbuilding Process does not start with the other.
Openness: We commit to learning to understand and not to persuade.
Personal: We aim to use personal language and avoid hurtful generalizations.
Resilience: We commit to listening when something is hard to hear.
Airtime: We aim to share "airtime" carefully and equally.
Respect: We aim to value another person and not interrupt.
Regarding our Way of Speaking and Listening
Dialogue Agreements
Openness: We commit to learning to understand and not to persuade.
Personal: We aim to use personal language to help building caring peer community.
Resilience: We listen and engage with challenging viewpoints to foster growth.
Brevity: We express our thoughts concisely to give space for diverse voices.
Respect: We value and appreciate the perspectives of others.
Regarding our Way of Posting
Group Values
Intentionality: We commit to speaking with the intention to serve the group (especially when sharing controversial or uncomfortable details).
Dialogue Agreements
Follow Up
Validation: We commit to honouring another person in their different story & perspective.
Additional Participant Elements:
Communication agreements
have the sole purpose to support an honest connection.
They can change when needed.
"Trust is a fragile bridge we build each day.
Trust begins with our willingness to start with change in ourselves"
Rob Corcoran
Openness: We commit to learning to understand and not to persuade.
Personal: We aim to use personal language and avoid hurtful generalizations.
Airtime: We aim to share "airtime" carefully and equally.
Regarding our Way of Speaking and Listening
Dialogue Agreements
Openness: We commit to learning to understand and not to persuade.
Personal: We aim to use personal language and avoid hurtful generalizations.
Airtime: We aim to share "airtime" carefully and equally.