Values & Group Agreements

Group Agreements

As T&S Hackathon participants, we agree to practice the following in order to promote harmony in the group, face challenges together, and bring the spirit of our practice to all group interactions. (The subsequent group agreements apply to all types of in-person and virtual communications).

• Confidentiality: 
  • Do not identify any participant or their affiliation.
  • Do not share private, confidential, or proprietary information. 
  • Sessions will not be recorded.

     

• Mindful Speaking:
  • Use “I” statements by speaking from your own perspective 
  • Avoid giving unsolicited advice, opinions, or  trying to fix each other.
  • Use discernment and ask permission before giving suggestions/advice/feedback.
  • Pause to ensure you’re not speaking over someone else – people need different amounts of time and space to share comfortably.
  • Be mindful of your biases and assumptions.
  • Be mindful of allowing enough space for everyone to speak.

     

• Mindful Listening: 
  • Practice deep listening. Be present and stay with the speaker, rather than planning what you want to say next. 
  • Listen with compassion, kindness, understanding, and sensitivity. 
  • Silence is ok!  Don’t rush to fill a silence with words.

     

• Participation:
  • Practice inclusion – honor our range or experiences, backgrounds, and views, including known and unknown diversity.
  • Be open to ideas and perspectives other than your own.
  • Be aware of your participation style (attune to how frequently you participate or don’t – and move forward or back accordingly).
  • Make room for different communication and participation styles, including language.
  • Assume positive intent: We’re all here to make a positive difference in this space!
  • Practice compassion with ourselves and others (get up, stretch your legs, and get a drink if you need – this isn’t a marathon!)
  • It’s ok to ask for help and support.
  • It’s ok to make mistakes or not know everything – it’s ok to be imperfect.