Campusalam

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There are many things you can do to set the scene for how you want people to respond. You can create an atmosphere of calm, friendliness, and respect. That will make people feel comfortable and safe, and less likely to get worked up by feeling threatened. Then people’s moods and outbursts won’t hijack what you want to do.

- In a situation where you are in charge, set ground rules at the beginning, or introduce them if you need to later, about how people are to treat one another: with fairness, respect, and accuracy in representing their opinions
- When dealing with contentious issues, encourage an objective approach, to gain knowledge
- Or encourage an empathetic approach, to try to understand even without agreement
- Include activities that develop listening skills, to build rapport between people and maintain respect
- Include exercises or activities that engage the thinking brain in the discussion

You can also specifically encourage the thinking brain. As long as people are using their thinking brain, they won’t become so emotive.

What are your top tips for creating an atmosphere of respect?