Post by Solus Hospes on Nov 8, 2011 15:58:01 GMT -5
(This was a hand out provided at the 11-07-11 GA transcribed for you here:)
BASIC GUIDLINES FOR PREVENTING VIOLENCE
By: David Warren, Ph.D.
THE GOAL: To employ strategies that will minimize or prevent violence (verbal or physical) with group members or with outsiders.
Short Term Strategies:
1. Train a number of group members how to respond to a person who appears angry, so that s/he will calm down.
- Rule 1: Be calm and speak to the person in a low tone of voice that shows genuine concern for their views.
- Rule 2: Take the person who seems upset away from the group and have one or two designated people listen emphatically. Listen for feelings and needs, until s/he feels fully heard and understood.
The goal here is to create connections with this person and calm them down- not to convince him/her that your views are right and theirs are wrong. You can show respectful understanding of their feelings and needs without having to agree with their views.
Intention is key: Do I want to be right or do I want to connect with this person- human being to human being?
2. Train some group members in the "protective use of force," if someone is endangering the safety of the group.
A small number of people are intent on violence. It may be very hard in a minute or two to discern who a violent person is. Err on the side of caution: If someone unruly is threatening violence- eject first, talk later. Better safe than sorry.
Long Term Strategies:
1. Offer training programs in Nonviolent Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills.
2. Establish a positive relationship with the local police in case violence does erupt.
What is Nonviolence Comminucation (NVC)?
NVC advocates radical personal responsibility
"We can choose how we think, act, listen and talk"
NVC advocates radical personal responsibility
"We can choose how we think, act, listen and talk"
NVC is a profound and powerful communication tool that aims to create a safe context for connecting with others in an authentic and direct way. Rather than judging, blaming, attacking, or trying to be right, NVC "intends" to connect human being to human being by listening empathetically and sharing honestly what we are feeling and needing at any given moment.
NVC offers a simple yet effective feamework to be more aware of what's going on inside of us so that we can connect and communicate it clearly to others. Learning NVC takes time and practice, especially to break through our habitual ways of thinking and communicating. Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D. is the founder of Nonviolent Communication and author of the book- Nonviolent Communication: Language of Life.
