Collective Commitment Writing Protocol Note: The facilitator should lead this activity. In groups without a facilitator, the team leader should facilitate this process. Supplies: two different colors of post-it notes—enough of each color foreach person to have 3 of each color. Steps 1. Remind everyone that collective commitment are more than just reminds to behave professionally; they create a series of commitments we make to each other about how we will support each other and learn from one another. Collective commitments are about creating a safe space in which everyone feels valued and respected. 2. Give each person 3 post-it notes—all notes should be the same color. Ask everyone to think about conditions they need to feel comfortable and productive in a collaborative group and to write ONE pernote. Some examples are: • • People allow time for me to think and process before needing an answer The group makes sure that even quieter people get a chance to talk 3. Each person is then given 3 notes of the second color and told to write up to 3 notes (one idea per post-it) about things that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe when doing group work, or that make them feel like their time is being wasted. Examples: • • People who work on other things while we are deciding something important People who show up late and then want us to go back and explain we’ve done already 4. When each person has finished, he or she collects all the post-its and does an affinity grouping of the desired conditions—looking for like topics and grouping those notes together. Choose one topic and readall the notes in the group out loud. (Do not allow any comments about who wrote what). Ask the group how this norm statement should be worded to best capture these ideas. Record their final response on a piece of chart paper. Proceed through all the topics. 5. Do an affinity grouping of the post-it notes with problematic conditions. Select one topic and read allthe notes out loud, then ask the group “Are we protected against this with our current statements? If theanswer is yes, move to the next topic. If the answer is no, then ask the group how they would like the norm statement to be written. As facilitator, be certain that it is worded positively. Do this process for each topic. 6. Read the norm statements out loud to the group and ask if these are the “commitments the group iswilling to make to each other.” If the response is yes, move to the next step. If anyone objects or hesitates, then ask the group to voice any concerns and adjust the collective commitments as necessary. 7. Remind the group that these collective commitments are commitments to each other and there is a shared expectation that everyone will uphold them. To ensure that we remember what we agree to, the collective commitments will be read atbeginning of every team meeting and members will be reminded of the focus norm (explained next). 8. At the end of the meeting, each member will be given a moment to silently and independently assess the groups’ adherence to the collective commitments on this day. No names or criticisms will be voiced, but then each member of the team will right down the number of the norm that he or she believes the team should focuson keeping next time. The group facilitator will review the post-its and announce the focus norm for the following week.
