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Potential Challenges in Circles

Shouting/Talking Over Each Other

Attacks on Others in the Circle

Timid/Disengagement

Managing Multiple Perspectives

Power Imbalances

No Traction in Resolutions/ No Movement Towards Consensus

Other Concerns?

Shouting/ Talking Over Each Other: Setting guidelines at the beginning; raising hand; asking people to pause; giving time to cool off; reframing in

Attacks on Others in the Circle: Guidelines, identifying possible trigger points in the beginning, stepping in and rerouting conversation; where’s the line between sharing opinion and pulling each other down?;

Timid/Disengagement: Encourage to share, pause and check-in, maybe not a huge point of concern unless they are an immediate partner.

Managing Multiple Perspectives: Recap direct wording if you can, ask if you missed anything, create spaces for additional reflection, let people know you’re doing your best

Power Imbalances: address those early on, think about the framing and whose voices it privileges, be careful about time, work with most marginalized people to make sure they know you are a resource too, might include DEI person or others

No traction in resolutions/ no movement towards consensus: Take a break and ask people to come back with 1-2 new ideas, brainstorm on the board

Other concerns?: Open up to Brett and others; see if Brett might want to share anything on reframing for non-violent communication

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