budding
Explore if identities are important to the conversation
People hold more than one identity. Draw them out before you put someone in the wrong bucket.
If we want to have better, more meaningful conversations. We need to fully understand the position that people have. It includes what identities they hold to the topic at hand.
It’s easy to put people in buckets. it’s also easy for people to get defensive because you have upset them by grouping them wrongly.
In these types of conversations, it’s important to:
- Draw out multiple identities. Ask people about their backgrounds and histories. Doing so will lessen the blow of any disagreements as they know it’s not an attack of their entire identity
- Ensure everyone is on an equal footing. Make sure to welcome everyone and give everyone a chance to speak.
- Acknowledge people’s experiences and similarities. It helps foster the shared sense of “we aren’t that much difference after all”
- Manage your environment. Some people feel better talking in a group setting, some are more comfortable 1 to 1. Use what works best for everyone.