Conflict plan for Genopret Kbh

Vores konfliktplan er en række aftaler for hvad vi gør, når der opstår smertefuld konflikt i netværket. Husk at det er lovens ånd, ikke dens bogstav, der gælder.

Sidst revideret 2023.03.28.

Collectivising conflicts

If we feel painfully affected, if something feels painful, and/or if conflict is happening, we can write to one another, to ask for support and to do precircles. Doing this, we build a praxis of collectivising the responsibility for carrying a conflict that affects members of the network.

Taking responsibility for what is happening

If one is feeling conflicted with the whole network, or experiences a big conflict, it is a possibility to reach out to each person in the network to have a preliminary talk about it, before bringing it to plenum.

Holding space for conflict

Some conflicts won't find the closure we hope for. Some conflicts won't be solved. We hold space for conflicts, and avoid trying to "fix" each other, or situations, if this is not what is needed.

Asking for support outside the network

We want to remind each of us the possibility of reaching out to people outside of the network if needed. Doing this, we try to value acceptance of differences of working styles and behaviors within the people active in the network.

Internally: Being reliable, and being realistic about our own resources

We ask for what we need, and offer what we can. Each of us actively practices being curious and honest about their own resources and about what they can offer, when we receive an invitation to participate in an activity in the network. We acknowledge that our actions and non-actions affect each other in the network. We use network meetings or written communication to give others a heads up about our resources and engagement in the nearest future. We also value understanding for any unforeseen hindrances coming along the way. We use network meetings and sub-groups meetings to check up on each other, and agree who checks up on people not present.

Externally: Valuing reliability, accountability and sustainabiliy

We don't owe anything more than what we can and want to offer: for ourselves and for people reaching out to us. That means that if a group reaches out to Genopret KBH and asks for help in a way that we can't serve, a "no" or a negociation between what is requested and what we can offer, is better than saying "yes" and not being able to keep our promises. In that sense we want to make sure that we work within our capacities and we state that we want to be long lasting as a network (and avoid burn out).

Asking for context and deepening of position

When we have to make decisions and there are different (sometimes opposing) opinions on the subject, it can work well to ask those being most invested in the subject matter to say more about their position. Why do they think like they think? Why is x important to them a.s.o. Extra context often helps ease any tension there may be around our differences.

When we speak about a circle, we build upon:

• 1 or 2 facilitators - that has responsibility for the whole circle
• The circle is concerned with at least one concrete handling
• Space for making a plan about what will happen next
• One of the objectives of the circles is to make sure that people are heard. For this we can use active listening techniques
• It lasts 3 hours maximum
• The person that calls for the circle is the first one to be asked to talk. The second person invited to talk can be the one the most directly affected by what has happened, if not other desires are there.
• A circle can be held even if some people invited to it are not willing to participate.
• Anyone affected by a conflict can call for a circle
• The process is based on willingness. Only those willing to participate can do something about what is happening.

🚩 Use of the word "circle"

• There is a collective agreement that a 'circle' process is an organic and local configuration in dialouge with the needs and the ressources present in a given conflict context. How the process should look are discussed and informed by all the participants.
• There is a desire for some in the network to be better apt to differentiate when something is a circle process, and when we are doing something else. The desire comes from a want to be clear about and explore different ways to handle a conflict, and not work with all-encompassing defitions, so we 1) do not erase the specificity of the circle process, and 2) are able of verbally unfolding and practicially doing various methods.