10 Tips for Effective Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Dialogues

1. Create and maintain a SAFE confidential environment - Create an atmosphere for open, honest, and confidential exchange; start by establishing ground rules

2. Understand the distinctions between dialogue versus debate

• ­ ­Dialogue focuses on inquiry and seeing the other’s perspective; it is listening, respecting, suspending (stop, step back and see things with new eyes and ears), and voicing what needs to be said within you

• ­ Debate focuses on advocating and convincing with statements; it sets up a win lose

3. Respect each other – value the experiences, lack of experiences, and difference in interpretations of those experiences; avoid blame and speculation; use inclusive language; foster civility; it is okay to disagree without being disagreeable

4. Commit to learn from each other - Listen to each other and not talk at each other;

• ­ Acknowledge differences in backgrounds, skills, interests, and values

• ­ Appreciate that these very differences will increase our awareness and understanding through the dialogue process

5. Ownership of the dialogue group belongs to the group – the group is the authority voice in the room; not the facilitator, they are there to hold the safe space for the dialogue and learning to occur

6. Challenge the idea and not the person - to challenge something that has been said, challenge the idea or the practice shared, not the individual sharing the idea or practice

7. Speak your discomfort - if something is bothering you, share it with the group; often our emotional reactions during the dialogue process offer the most valuable learning opportunities

8. Step up, step back - be mindful of taking up much more space than others and at the same time, empower yourself to speak up when others are dominating the conversation; give everyone the opportunity to speak

9. Use “I” statements – speak for yourself; own your statements taking responsibility for his or her own thoughts and feelings rather than attributing them to someone else

10. Reflection - plays a key role in encouraging dialogue participants to actively reflect on the expressions made by others and self during the dialogue, especially those they may disagree; leave time after the dialogue to privately capture your own reflections in writing; allow everyone a chance to unwind and think calmly about his or her views, learning, and future actions you want to take

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