Home About PCP What's New Upcoming Workshops Services We Offer Projects Stories/Forums Support PCP Contact Us Resources Alumni Network Site Search
			The Six C's of Convening Constructive Conversations Think stars. Like the Big Dipper. This cluster of C's gives you an easily recognizable constellation of qualities to help you navigate your way into and through a constructive conversation with people who may have radically different views from one another and from you. CLARITY Be clear about your reasons for reaching out, what kind of conversation you have in mind, and where you hope those involved will have experienced by the time it ends. COLLABORATION Invite your potential partner(s) to join you in making key decisions about the conversation, including the timing, location, and topics you will (and won't) discuss. CAREFUL COMMUNICATION Decide together what agreements to make about how you will and will not talk to one another. CURIOUSITY Decide together what questions are likely to surface new information that will be of genuine mutual interest. Ask questions to learn. COMMITMENT Discuss what commitments will strengthen mutual trust. For example, to stay until the end, to honor requests to keep what is said to yourself or "off the record," to "hang in" to the best of your ability, listening even to what is hard to hear. CREDIBILITY Say what is true for you, your views, beliefs, feelings and experiences. Avoid claims of speaking for people who are not present. To download the full PDF version of this document please click here. To learn more about convening constructive conversations, visit www.publicconversations.org to download PCP's step-by-step dialogue guide or to register for a training. Return to Bridging the US Political Divide. Return to Bridging the US Political Divide Resources Page
	Public Conversations Project  | info@publicconversations.org 46 Kondazian Street, Watertown, MA 02472