QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN GATHERING

We continue to find ourselves in strange times. These days, the opening question when reconnecting with friends is no longer, “How are you?,” but often, “Have you been V’d?”

For some, this question may feel not only appropriate, but welcomed - a way of sharing an enthusiastic “yes!,” followed by a hug.

For others, this question feels like overstepping - an inquiry into an arguably private matter. For others yet, the answer to this question is complicated.

As a result, I believe that we can do better for each other by pushing ourselves to ask better questions when gathering with friends, clients, colleagues, and loved ones. Here are a few that we might start with.

BEFORE THE GATHERING

• What types of gatherings is each person currently comfortable with?

• What agreements can we put in place so that everyone will feel safe and comfortable?

• How might we redesign our space to accommodate this ‘new normal?’

• How can we create a sense of personal choice, agency, and proactive communication within this gathering? (a great example shared recently included wrist bands for participants, where each individual could visibly share their comfort level through a red, yellow, or green wrist band: hugs, fist bumps, or distanced air high-fives)

• What information can we share ahead of time so that everyone knows what to expect coming in?

• How might we include both a virtual, and an in-person, component to this gathering?

• How can we clearly communicate any requirements far ahead of time, in order to give people time to decide and prepare accordingly?

DURING THE GATHERING

• How is everyone feeling about the set-up of the space? Is there anything that needs to shift or change in order to make it feel safe and comfortable for everyone?

• How can we make sure that everyone is included in the dialogue?

• How can we make a special effort to include, and engage, those who may feel socially awkward after a year of not gathering in person?

• How are we different now, as a group and/or as individuals, than we were before? What has shifted or changed?

• How is everyone doing?

• How is everyone feeling?

• How is this going?

AFTER THE GATHERING

• What worked well?

• What didn’t?

• What helped you to feel safe and/or comfortable?

• What didn’t help you to feel safe and/or comfortable?

• What changes can we make for next time?

• How can we better engage our virtual participants next time?

• What else might we experiment with?

What do you think? Any tips that you’ve been using to design, prepare for, and/or host gatherings in these ever-evolving times? Feel free to drop a note in the comments, or via the connect form.

Thanks for reading!