The Code of Conduct gives a basic framework on expectations around behavior. You will want to also set expectations with your group around how people engage with the work that you’re doing in Community Circles.

You might discuss how you set expectations of making people feel valued and can create a team compact about how you work together. Everyone is responsible for contributing; nobody should dominate the conversation.

Make everyone feel welcome. If you’re hosting a conversation, we recommend that you have people introduce themselves. You’ll want to have people keep it short so you don’t spend all your time on intros — a one-sentence introduction is great for this. If you already know someone in your group, you can ask them in advance if they will model a short intro to the group.

You may want to divide up work as you go along. Asking for help scheduling, note taking and with other tasks can be helpful. If you’re having a note taker for conversations, please don’t assign that to the youngest woman in the group. Note takers need only capture salient points. Remember to list key ideas at the end!

For moderating conversations, remember to ask people to be mindful about how they engage. We’re hoping for active listening, being mindful of personality differences. If they’re very extroverted, they may need to remind themselves to make room for other people. If they’re introverted, they may need more time to get their thoughts together. Listening with empathy and critical thinking is encouraged. Remember, the first story you hear might not be the full story.