One component of dialogue that the Beverly Dialogue Youth Corps has been learning about is Communication Agreements. These help establish clear norms and expectations for the dialogues. They also are helpful for facilitators to use if they need to intervene during a dialogue to help keep everyone on track. They allow facilitators to address, in a de-personalized and neutral way, what an individual can do to contribute more productively to the dialogue. Here are the ones we frequently use:
In order to promote courageous listening and healing connection, we agree to:
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Speak for ourselves and from our own point of view and experiences
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Seek to understand and listen with curiosity and resilience
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Be mindful of the difference between intention and impact
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Share air time—notice who has and has not spoken before speaking a second time
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Respect confidentiality: take away and share learnings, leave names
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Pass/pass for now
