Moving Forward Together

1
Moving Forward Together

• Michael Freeman
• Janet Nishihara
• Larry D. Roper

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Goals for the Experience

• To define a shared, actionable vision for
  programs and services to meet the educational and
  developmental needs of Students of Color at the
  University of Iowa
• To create structures for university-wide
  partnerships to support Students of Color
• To develop mechanisms, agreements and commitments
  essential to get Students of Color connected with
  programs and services that can best meet their
  needs and
• To strengthen shared institutional
  accountability and relationships for responding
  to and supporting the needs of Students of Color,
  with related outcome indicators.

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AgendaRetreat, Part I (Retreat
Facilitators) 130 - 300 Overview of the
Retreat and Participant Introductions Setting the
Context Guiding Principles for Managing
Difficult ConversationsBreak 300 -
315Retreat, Part II (Retreat
Facilitators) 315 - 500 Ground Rules for
Conversations Creating Space for Focus on
Student SuccessBreak 500 -
530Dinner 530 - 700
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Entering Difficult Conversations
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General Ground Rules

• Share only what you feel comfortable
• Speak only for yourself
• Avoid side conversations
• Be as committed to listening as you are to being
  heard

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The current condition of our inter-group
communication

• Random
• Fit in amidst our busyness (we dont allocate
  time for important conversations)
• The needs of all people in conversations are
  hardly ever taken into account
• We dont manage the dynamics
• Conversations operate without parameters

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Difficult Conversations

• We avoid them because 
• They create discomfort
• They arouse emotions
• The stakes are high
• We dont know how to have them turn out well

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Inter-group conflict issues

• Stereotypes
• Mounting tensions
• Isolation
• Isolating language and behaviors
• History
• Resources
• Lack of communication
• Assumptions
• Unclear commitments
• Territoriality

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Issues in groups

• Not keeping your word
• Not being supportive
• Not supporting decisions
• Not asking for help
• Gossiping, complaining and undermining
• Not surfacing problems and issues
• Not sharing (e.g., credit, resources, airtime)

• Turf
• No clarity in processes or decision-making
• Not sharing when something doesnt work
• Ineffective meetings
• Not being open to other people telling you things
• Not paying attention
• Not responding to phone calls, emails, voice mail
• Not showing appreciation

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Guiding Principles for Difficult Conversations

• Someone has permission to manage the conversation
• Have the conversation only if you are committed
  to having it turn out right for everyone involved
• Have only one conversation at a time
• Take all parts of the conversation to completion
• Treat each conversation and each person in a way
  that shows they matter

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Guiding Principles for Conversations (2)

• Everyone in the conversation must be taken care
  of
• Have the conversation only if you are committed
  to producing something of value
• Involve yourself as if your participation is the
  key to the success of the conversation
• Ask for the commitments you want
• Be clear about expectations of you
• Document agreements

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Conversation Ground Rules

• Generous listening
• Be on each others side
• Straight speaking
• Manage the reputations of others as you would
  manage your own
• Take care of each other

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Creating Relationships That Work
Things that matter
People who care
Thoughtful, Respectful Conversation
Things not expected
Personal shifts or insights
New thinking
Increased Relationship and a sense of community
Pooled wisdom of the group increases
Shared background of understanding
14
Individual Introductions

• Begin in dyads
• Each person speaks for three minutes,
  without interruption
• Respond to the following four questions
• Who am I?
• Why am I here?
• What do I hope to get done?
• I would gain the greatest value from our
  impending conversations if

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Creating Space For Focus On Student Success

• What do we need to talk about before we can talk
  about our work of supporting Students of Color?

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Wrap-up

• Anything else?
• Needs/hopes for tomorrow?

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FRIDAY
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2008 Continental
Breakfast 745 AM Retreat, Part III (Retreat
Facilitators) 830 - 1145 Recap of Thursdays
Discussion Overview of Todays Work Objective-Set
ting and Message Development Lunch 1200 -
100 Retreat, Part IV (Retreat
Facilitators) 100 330 Integrated Performance
Strategies Break 330 - 345 Retreat, Part
V (Retreat Facilitators) 345 - 500 Agreements
and Commitments Closing Discussion
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Objective Setting and Message Development

• What broad vision do you have for what Students
  of Color will experience at the University of
  Iowa?

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Integrated Performance Strategies

• What key concepts (beliefs) must we embrace?
• What key tactical efforts must we execute?

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Agreements and Commitments (including Proof
Points)

• What agreements do we make for specific actions
  and behaviors to advance our work with Students
  of Color?
• To what do we commit in our relationships with
  each other to create a positive climate for our
  shared work with Students of Color?
• What proof will we offer to ourselves and others
  as evidence that we have followed through on our
  commitments?

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Closing

• Check for Completion anything else?
• Verify Commitments what happens next?
• Check for Accomplishments what did we produce?
• Check for Alignment everyone on board?
• Share Acknowledgements what do we appreciate?

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Acknowledgements and Appreciation

• Observations from dialogue (what was revealed to
  you in a new or different way)
• Important behaviors (what you observed that was
  significant)
• New learning or insights (what came clear for you)