Communication Guidelines
Communication
| Focus | Practice |
|---|
| Speak from “I” without absolute framing | ”From my perspective, I think/feel/believe that…” |
| Observe before interpreting | When in doubt, return to clear language free of mixed interpretation |
| Demonstrate active presence | Posture, eye contact, replace fidgeting or repetitive gestures with mindfulness |
| Tone & sensory awareness | Calm, steady, without competition — favor silence over filler words |
| Make clear, doable requests with collective engagement | ”How do we break this down into something we can do now? What would feel like a good next step?” |
| Commitment to growth | Everyone has agreed to learning, expanding, and growing — not fixed in “that’s just who I am” |
| State needs simply | ”I notice I’m feeling xyz, I’ll need to sleep on it and I’ll revisit this” |
Listening
| Focus | Practice |
|---|
| Compassion over reactivity — pause before responding | Hold space rather than taking up space; raise hand rather than interrupting; limit disruptions through empathy and increased tolerance |
| Curiosity over certainty | Leave space for others to process information. If I think I know something absolutely, I’m likely wrong — leave space for questions and uncertainty |
| Mirror to understand & appreciate | Reflect back what you heard even if you disagree or don’t fully understand (yet); use affirming language to show gratitude and favor connection |
| Observe intent vs. impact | Sometimes words hit in ways they are not intended — be more impeccable with our words and don’t take things personally |
| Respect capacity | We try to enter meetings with presence but we cannot force others to engage due to our own discomfort or stress |
Co-Regulation
When reactivity or disruption is noticed, follow these steps:
- Pause — pause when reactivity or disruption is noticed
- Reground — regulate through movement, breath, closed eyes, silence, etc.
- Repair — when calm and steady
- Resume — when collective regulation is restored
Additional Practices
- Open and close shared spaces intentionally — set the container and ground rules
- Use appreciation and forgiveness rounds
- Keep written notes and summaries: what was decided, who’s responsible, what’s next, and schedule follow-ups