Empathic listening

Intentionally and actively listening to the perspective and feelings of another without inserting your own beliefs. The person listening is reflective and non-judgmental, as if they are mirroring the thoughts and deeper feelings of the speaker. The listener also observes the non-verbal behavior of the speaker to accurately point out inconsistencies between what’s being said and how it’s being communicated.

Compassion

Empathy and action designed to communicate deep listening, acceptance (not approval), and understanding of another’s experience.

Accountability

Behaviors that demonstrate a group’s process for achieving an agreed upon goal or goals.

Self-reflection

The ability to witness a conflict or event while simultaneously evaluating behaviors, feelings and thoughts at a deeper level.

Worthiness

The conviction that you are good enough as you are, flaws and all, and that you deserve to be loved.

Transparency

The ability to communicate the truth about a past event, or a present situation which reveals the real motive behind an action. The lack of transparency is usually motivated by and can include a power grab, greed and/or the desire to protect oneself from exposure.

Sense of humor

The ability to laugh with others and at oneself with the goal of healing, revealing deeper meanings about discomfort and exploring similarities of the human condition.

Equality

Refers to giving the same opportunity to everyone and expecting the same outcomes for everyone.

Equity

The ability to give various levels of support depending upon what a group or an individual needs to achieve. Equity recognizes that people start from different social locations with different talents. One cannot assume that the same opportunity will yield the same results for each person. Equity takes into account that not everyone will contribute the same thing.