7 Cups Leadership Community

A (Basic) Guide to Managing Dashboards

by Heather225

July 18th

...See more 7 Cups makes use of google sheets dashboards to manage our many projects across domains. This is a very simple guide for dashboard makers and users alike. Appearance Keep it simple: Don't overload your dashboards with too much information. Make the dash accessible: Use a light background color like light grey, off-white or soft yellow to reduce contrast, and dark text on a light background like black or dark grey to improve readability Use visuals! Charts, graphs, and other visuals can help you to quickly identify trends and patterns. Data Clearly define the purpose of each dashboard: What information do you need to see at a glance to understand how your project is performing? Some basics: a team roster (list of everyone added and their role), a quota tracker (to count their numbers for fulfilling their role), and project stats, also known as… Metrics! Metrics are measurements for tracking progress. You can count them, like website visitors or sales made. Here are some examples from existing projects to give you an idea of what 7 Cups metrics and goals look like: * Verified Listener Team: Number of requests received, number of requests taken, number of listeners who passed/failed * Listener Coaching Team: Number of requests, number of requests picked up (and by which coaches) + monthly quota for each coach By tracking metrics, we can make important decisions about where to invest time and resources and it helps us to create a clear picture of where we’re at so we can figure out where we’re going. By seeing the numbers, you know if things are improving, staying the same, or declining. Management Check your team roster regularly (monthly is recommended as badges tied to quotas refresh at the beginning of each month) to make sure it’s up-to-date. Remove team members that have been inactive for a while. For example, if someone has been inactive for 2+ months and hasn’t been in touch with you, it’s safe to assume they’re not active. Life happens and that’s okay because they can always reapply. The same goes for users who have stepped down or deactivated. It can be demotivating to see those folks cluttering up the dash (and a little sad for those who are missing them!). A clean, vibrant dashboard makes for a happier team! Remember, these are just the basic pointers to get you oriented and hopefully give you a better sense of how dashboards aid our work on 7 Cups! Do you have other tips and tricks? Drop them below and I’ll add them to this post! For those experienced dashboard users, if you wish to write more in-depth guides, feel free! - Some helpful resources: Self-Care Break Protocol and Guidelines for Badge Reapplication [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/SelfCareBreakProtocolandGuidelinesForAutoBadgeRemoval_295199/] Oldie but goodie to reference: Community Dashboard template [https://www.7cups.com/forum/scleaders/CommunitiesInformationampUpdates_1184/SCDashboardGuidelines_180778/]

Core Tips for New & Aspiring Leaders

by Heather225

May 18th

...See more Volunteer leadership on 7 Cups is a unique and rewarding experience. You can learn valuable interpersonal and professional skills to carry into your life and have helped nurture our community in the process. Our leaders are the backbone of support to the daily operations of our platform, and thousands of caring volunteers over the years have built up and shaped our community today. The leadership experience is also one of constant learning. Being mostly peer-powered, there’s always something new to pick up. I’d like to impart some of the basics that are often asked about. Self-care If you need to take a break for any reason at all, please do! Let the community know in our official Farewell/Break/Return post [https://www.7cups.com/forum/listenerjourney/SelfCareandFun_2246/FarewellTakingaBreakReturningThreadSendYourRegards_4132/], and bookmark it to update when you return! If you’re on a team, inform the respective leads and anyone else who may miss you! A note on changing, leaving, or returning to roles There are many valid reasons to step down from a leadership role. Perhaps you've achieved your goals, need a change of pace, or simply want to focus on different aspects of the community. It's important to be honest with yourself and put your needs first. Your team will not be disappointed in you; you’re not letting anyone down. We risk burnout if we continue to do something we’re not in a position to do. We would be proud of you for knowing your limits and not overextending yourself — this is a critical part of setting boundaries. The door does not close behind you when you step away or step down. You can always return. Leadership on 7 Cups is not a linear or fixed path. We support you at every stage in your journey. Outreach Outreach in the context of 7 Cups is the act of proactively communicating to inform or engage a specific group of people, to build relationships, collaborate, raise awareness, or promote an initiative. Want to contact people who might be a good fit for your project? Want to let people know about a new initiative? Looking for feedback? Outreach is your biggest tool, proven most effective through PMs. To learn more about conducting outreach, see our general guide [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dmPFdWxLIu14b0deNWUd7gNx2TqekZgjXv7IDhLUeaw/edit]! Note: Teams may have their own guides on how to do outreach in their specific domains so ask your leaders! Team leads: If you can focus most of your effort on 1-1 effective outreach (follow the guide), make sure to create a personalized message for your target audience and pair it with speedy onboarding, you will increase the possibility of getting many more leaders! The only downside is it can be tedious. However, Project Agents are great stepping-stone roles and they could act as outreachers for your programs. Communication is Everything! Communication is the bridge that connects every one of us. We depend on clear communication to know what’s happening in each other’s worlds, to meet deadlines, to avoid misunderstandings, and work together better. In my experience, all the biggest problems usually stem from a lack of communication, but thankfully this is a very fixable problem if we simply talk! And believe me, there is no such thing as over-communication here! - I hope this advice helps you in your journey as a leader with us! Please add more in the replies below!

In the Spirit of Collaboration!

by

February 29th

...See more Hey! Today I want to share a secret with the community. And the secret is.. All the good I could ever do at 7 Cups, in an effort to make it a better community for all of us, is because of the collaborative efforts with my wonderful and limitless Cups Friends! Just to give a few examples (to get this thread started), collaboration with @bubblingbreeze14 initiated the peer appreciation program [https://www.7cups.com/forum/gratitude/AppreciationProgram_2310/PeerAppreciationProgram_262230/] in 2021. And now in 2023, collaboration with @Suryansh gave birth to the Kindness Project [https://www.7cups.com/forum/projectsandevents/KindnessCrusadersProject_2649/KindnessCrusadersof7Cups_318793/]. A collaboration with @sunisshiningandsoareyou gave rise to the new community feedback process [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/CommunitySurveys_2601/NewCommunityFeedbackProcess_264411/]. It was Sun with whom I had first discussed the need for a constructive feedback form and together we had drafted the first draft of the form! There are countless examples like that, I love to collaborate day in and day out, all in an effort of together making the community yet more sweet and wonderful. This collaborative spirit is my strength and fuel, keeping me inspired to do more and keep surprising all with new gifts! I will be using the thread to tag my more friends and share the work we together did/are doing for the community! Feel free to use this thread to also share the collaboration efforts you did in the community (it could be a chatroom session you cohosted, a new forum thread started with someone, a cupser who helped you in your cups listener/leadership role, a collaboration between teams, or a community project [https://www.7cups.com/forum/projectsandevents/CommunityActivitiesEvents_1908/7CupsCommunityProjectProposals_307069/] you are coleading with someone! Need more ideas on collaboration? Get some wonderful collaboration tips here! [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/ExploringMethodsofLeadershipCollaborationAcrosstheCommunity_313417/])

Community Leadership #1: What is a Community Leader?

by ASilentObserver

February 25th

...See more Hello team! When I joined Listener Support Room, I was so fascinated and inspired by different badges like Peer Support, and Chatroom Mentor and I was like I wanted it. I want to be a Community Leader. I believe many like me have that moment when you thought how cool it is and I want to be one as well. But let me tell you something that not many talk about often. Community Leader is not about having lots of badges or many roles. Community leadership is about serving. Serving the people. So to talk about it, I am starting the Community Leadership Series to talk about a few things that I learned from my mentors, teams, and you all. In the first round, I will be covering 7 lessons of being a community leader and learn together more about community leadership. In this post, we will talk about community leaders and what is the core element of being a community leader. You probably heard that leaders are not born, they become one through their efforts to be one. Community leaders take responsibility for the well-being and improvement of their people and community. Let’s take a moment and try to answer these questions * Are you someone who wants to give back to the community? * Are you someone who wants to support & improve the community? * Are you doing something to contribute? * Are you someone who isn’t around waiting for someone else to take steps to get a job done? * Are you someone who recognizes a problem, has an idea to solve it, and taking steps to do that? So, if you have answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then congratulations! You are a community leader already or on your way to becoming one. You don’t have to have a role as a first step to be a community leader. Your first step is to decide to take responsibility for something in your community. It can be supporting your fellow friends in a group chat, supporting a member in the forums, helping or guiding someone to navigate the community or shape their experiences, and so on. You know community leadership starts from within even before taking a role. You can take responsibility and contribute to support the community the way you are willing to. Now many might be thinking, if we all are community leaders, then why do some roles or badges fascinate us? Many learn community leadership by trial and error. It is not a bad way, but it can be a long road where you have to figure on your own what you doing right or wrong. So, I see roles and badges are helping hands to help you contribute. These roles come with specific training that you get to help you prepare and equip you with the knowledge and understanding to become better at what you are willing to do. But, it doesn’t mean that you will be a perfect leader. You still have a lot to learn, make mistakes, and learn more. And, the focus is to serve your people, your community. Also, to serve, we do the non-glamorous parts of the job like showing up early and staying late. Taking one more step to strive to help better, organize and sometimes also mean doing spring clean up. I will share more about it in the next posts. In a nutshell, community leadership is: * About serving people * Taking responsibility for the well-being and improvement * Role & badges are helping hands to equip one with relevant knowledge and information. * Community leadership comes with non-glamorous parts of the job too. * It is about consistency and taking your small steps daily. So, what is community leadership to you? All thoughts are welcomed. There is no right or wrong version. We all imagined community leadership in our unique ways and this is an opportunity to learn from each other and together. ------------------------- You can also explore the "Become a Leader" page here! [https://www.7cups.com/listener/training/leadership/]

Leaders: A Lesson in Delegation

by Heather225

February 22nd

...See more So, you’re a leader. As a leader, you probably oversee a project, team, or maybe an entire domain. That’s a lot of responsibility, right? But here's the thing about leading: you don’t have to do it all on your own! In fact, you are expected not to do everything on your own. There is no I in team after all. This is where delegation comes into play. Delegation is the act of assigning tasks to others. It’s, in so few words, sharing the workload. And the more you can delegate, the more you can get done. That’s what makes our ecosystem (learn about it here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/SiteUpdates_100/GlensNookCommunity_547/HowtoCreateaProblemSolvingEcosystemon7Cups_249799/]) thrive. You’ll see examples of delegation all across 7 Cups. A good example is our Academy. We have a Dean. The Dean delegates to the Ambassadors. The Ambassadors delegate to the Mentors, and the Mentors all have different roles they fulfill to ensure students progress from trainees to graduates. Another advantage to delegation is teaching. You are probably a Mentor Leader reading this right now. Maybe you are in charge of a set of people and a project but you want to maybe focus on other things. But in order to delegate successfully, you need to teach your people. As a master of your domain, you would teach others how to do what you do and once they learn, they can then become masters. They would then teach what they know, and so on. Make sense? Through all this, you scale up help and grow. With all this in mind, let’s delve into some important delegation barriers many leaders experience or feel. * Ego – I can do it better myself. * Time – Takes too long to explain. * Accountability – I’m accountable if it goes wrong. * Skills Gaps – My staff don’t possess the technical skills. * Authority Threat – Delegation reduces my own authority. Stressed-out leaders who go from crisis to crisis and spend most of their working day ‘fighting fires’ are probably failing to delegate. The ‘firefighting’ is reactive management, not proactive management. 3 Benefits of Delegation to the Leader #1 – Free up your time whilst achieving more By delegating effectively in the workplace, as project leader you will free yourself up to focus on more urgent/pressing/high level projects and strategic tasks, you will also help grow and develop other people in your team. #2 – Establish a thriving culture of trust Avoid saying to yourself, “I’ll just do it myself”. Your work will begin to pile up and make you less efficient. Successful managers know when to delegate and increase productivity. When you delegate correctly, not only do you motivate others, you make them feel involved, contribute to their professional development, and utilise your team’s skills. #3 – Build trust and increase the flexibility of your team When your team receives the chance to challenge their skills, their loyalty and productivity will likely improve, or at the least, not decrease. When a leader uses delegation to develop their team they are better placed to know who has the practical competencies in place to take on for the most important duties. In addition, collaborating as a team on a project allows for ideas being shared, for people to have a voice and for team ideas to grow. Delegation can be an essential tool and skill to get things done in a timely fashion. In your absence, things will get done, and done well. 3 Key Benefits of Delegation to your Team #1 – Chance to prove your worth When you have been delegated a task, this is your chance to shine and show people the skills you possess. #2 – An opportunity to be involved When your leader involves you, take it as a compliment rather than a negative thought. They believe in your skills and know you can do a great job. Furthermore, now that you are involved you can provide an opinion. Good leaders will always take them on board. #3 – A unique opportunity to grow your skills When people show faith in you, it is a great chance to learn, build confidence, and experience you can carry with you beyond Cups. Reflection time! 1. Leaders, do you struggle with delegation? Why? 2. Can you identify areas in your domain where you should be delegating? 3. What are some examples of tasks you can delegate to your teammates?

Community Leadership #3: Develop Your Vision

by ASilentObserver

February 12th

...See more Last week we deep-dived to understand how communication is crucial [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/CommunityLeadership2CommunicationisCrucial_321902/] and I appreciate you all coming forward to share your thoughts with us. If any of us didn't yet, please share here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/CommunityLeadership2CommunicationisCrucial_321902/] Vision in community leadership is like the North Star, guiding the community towards a shared future and inspiring collective action. It is not just about setting goals, but the ability to look beyond the present and paint a picture of a desired future. This "picture," known as a vision, serves as the cornerstone of leadership, acting as a guiding light and source of inspiration for collective action. A. Why vision is essential for community leaders: * A clear vision acts as a roadmap, setting shared goals and providing a strong framework for strong decision-making. It eliminates confusion and ambiguity, ensuring everyone is working towards the same objective. * A compelling vision sparks passion and commitment. It ignites hope and inspires individuals to invest their time, energy, and resources in realizing the desired future. * A shared vision transcends individual differences and fosters cohesion. It creates a sense of belonging and purpose, bridging divides and uniting diverse perspectives within the community. * A strong vision provides flexibility and direction in the face of challenges. It helps one to adapt to changing situations, keeping them focused on the ultimate goal. B. How to develop a powerful vision Developing an impactful vision is important, whether leading a community, a project, or even yourself. Here are some key steps to craft your vision: 1. Deep dive into your WHY: Start with introspection like what drives you? What problems do you want to solve? What impact do you want to make? Understanding your core values and motivations sets the foundation for a vision that aligns with your purpose. Consider the broader context and challenges your community or organization faces. What are the current trends, opportunities, and threats? Understanding the landscape helps you envision a future that addresses these elements. 2. Engage with your audience: Gather diverse perspectives by talking to the team, community members, mentors or leaders. What are their needs, aspirations, and concerns? What do they envision for the future? This input ensures your vision reflects the collective desire and avoids solely focusing on your perspective. Facilitate open discussions to encourage brainstorming and feedback. Allow creative expression and diverse voices to contribute to shaping the vision. 3. Dream big, but be realistic: Don't be limited by current constraints. Challenge the status quo and envision a future that truly excites and inspires. While dreaming big is important, ensure your vision is achievable and relevant to the resources and capabilities available. Striking a balance between aspiration and practicality is crucial. 4. Focus on positive impact: Clearly articulate how your vision will improve the lives of your community, organization, or individuals. Focus on the positive outcomes and the difference your vision will make. Show how your vision can be achieved and what role each individual can play. This creates a sense of ownership and motivates people to contribute towards the desired future. 5. Craft a clear and compelling message: Your vision should be easily understood and remembered. Use vivid imagery, metaphors, or storytelling to paint a picture of the desired future. Emotionally connect with your audience and spark their imagination. If necessary, create a concise vision statement that captures the essence of your vision in a single sentence or phrase. 6. Communicate consistently and effectively: Utilize various communication channels to reach your audience. Your actions and decisions should reflect the values and aspirations embodied in the vision. Lead by example and inspire others to do the same. As circumstances change and progress is made, revisit your vision and adapt it as needed. Ensure it remains relevant and continues to inspire collective action. Please know developing an impactful vision is an iterative process. Don't be afraid to experiment, gather feedback, and refine your vision as you move forward.. C. Implement Vision Through Reverse Engineering Reverse engineering can be a powerful tool for implementing your vision, especially when it comes to breaking down a complex goal into manageable steps. Here's how you can use this: 1. Start with the end in mind: Clearly define your vision in detail, considering all aspects and desired outcomes. Be as specific as possible. 2. Deconstruct the vision: Imagine you are looking at a finished product and need to understand how it was built. Work backward from your vision, asking: * What needs to be in place for the vision to be realized? * What smaller goals and milestones must be achieved? * What resources, skills, and systems are required? 3. Analyze existing solutions: Look for similar visions already implemented or similar problems solved. Study successful cases and extract elements that are adaptable to your situation. This can provide valuable insights and shortcuts. 4. Identify key components: Break down your vision into its core components. Are there technological hurdles, social challenges, or behavioral changes required? Analyze each component individually, understanding its complexity and dependencies. 5. Build from the ground up: Now, start building from the identified components. Focus on achieving the smallest attainable milestones first, ensuring each step contributes to the larger goal. 6. Iteration and adaptation: Please know reverse engineering is not a linear process. As you implement, there will be challenges and unforeseen circumstances. Be prepared to adapt your approach, learn from setbacks, and refine your actions based on new information. Combining your vision with the analytical approach of reverse engineering, you can break down complex goals into actionable steps and increase your chances of success. The key is to be flexible, adapt to new information, and continuously strive towards your desired future. Points to remember: * A vision is not a static picture, but rather a dynamic force that evolves with the community. Regular evaluations and revisions are crucial. * The best visions are created and championed by the residents themselves. * Don't let the vision remain just a dream. Translate it into concrete plans and initiatives that move the community closer to its desired future. * It's a journey, not a destination, but one filled with immense potential for positive change. Question for discussion: * What is your vision? What steps did you take to actualize it? Please join and share your thoughts ask any questions for our group discussion and find better ways to actualize visions. ------------------------- * Community Leadership #2: Communication is Crucial [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/CommunityLeadership2CommunicationisCrucial_321902/] * Community Leadership #1: What is a Community Leader? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/CommunityLeadership1WhatisaCommunityLeader_321337/]

Community Leadership #2: Communication is Crucial

by ASilentObserver

January 29th

...See more Hello team, I hope we are doing well. Last week we deep-dived to understand: What is community leadership [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/CommunityLeadership1WhatisaCommunityLeader_321337/]and I appreciate you all coming forward to share your thoughts with us. If any of us didn't yet, please share here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/CommunityLeadership1WhatisaCommunityLeader_321337/] And, today I wanted to take a moment to discuss the crucial role of communication in community leadership. As leaders, it is our responsibility to foster a sense of unity, empower individuals, and drive positive change. And effective communication lies at the heart of achieving these goals. Communication serves as the lifeblood that connects individuals, ideas, and actions. It is through clear and open lines of communication that we can overcome challenges, build trust, and create an inclusive environment where everyone's voice is heard. When we talk about effective communication in community leadership, it goes beyond simply conveying information or directives. It involves active listening, understanding diverse perspectives, and engaging in meaningful dialogue. By doing so, we can build strong relationships, resolve conflicts, and foster collaboration. It is essential to recognize that effective communication is a two-way street. Whether it is a communication between peer-peer, leader-community, leader- leader or so on. It is a two-way process to ensure concerns and feedback from both ends are shared and covered. Another crucial aspect is transparency. When leaders are open and honest in their communication, it fosters trust and credibility within the community. Transparency means sharing information, updates, and decisions promptly, even when the news may be difficult or unpopular. By doing so, we can build a culture of accountability and ensure that everyone is on the same page, working towards a shared vision. Inclusivity is a fundamental principle of effective communication in community leadership. It is important to ensure that all community members feel welcomed and included in the conversation. This means actively seeking out diverse perspectives, listening with empathy, and creating a safe space where individuals can express themselves without fear of judgment or discrimination. By embracing diversity, we can tap into the collective wisdom and strength of our community. And, the power of gratitude and appreciation in our communication efforts helps a lot. Taking the time to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of community members can go a long way in fostering a positive and supportive environment. A simple thank you or recognition can inspire individuals to continue their involvement and make a lasting impact. Now, I want us to come together and share our thoughts on these questions. Please share what you can. * What communication challenges did you encounter? * How did you use the communication strategies to navigate those challenges? * What did you learn about effective communication in community leadership? Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful community leadership. Let's strive to communicate with purpose, empathy, and authenticity, empowering individuals and driving positive change together! ------------------------- You can also explore the "Become a Leader" page here! [https://www.7cups.com/listener/training/leadership/]

Badge Numbers vs. Badge Display Explained

by Heather225

October 24th, 2023

Exploring Methods of Leadership Collaboration Across the Community

by Heather225

October 11th, 2023

...See more Hello, leaders! Many of us occupy more than one leadership role in our community. For example, I could be a Listener Mentor, Chatroom Moderator, and Forum Supporter as well. Likewise, you could also carry multiple roles in the community. You’d agree that all the various roles in the community are ultimately there to serve the community, and thus, all the roles are interconnected with one another. All the projects and teams within the community must work together in harmony with the common goal of making a better community. There needs to be a spirit of working together within each team, as well as between the teams. Let us take an example. I am a Sharing Circle Host. On one hand, I’d look to be a good host and encourage my fellow hosts -that’d be me being an awesome team member creating unity within my team of hosts. On the other hand, I am aware that many other projects exist in the community at large. So, as a sharing circle host, I could ponder over if there is a possibility of promoting another community project. For instance, I could suggest to the Sharing Circle Leader that we could share the Peer Appreciation Form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsCXyPYjQ4dsfLMh2ZzXC4of1lEutJsSasbkzc6JLDq7b8ow/viewform] in one of the conclusion messages of the Sharing Circle script. (This is something we actually did!) Taking another example, let’s say I make a forum post on how to be a good listener in the Listener Learning & Journey Community. Now, I am also aware that various quality projects exist on 7 Cups and it’s an opportunity to promote those! So, I could include the link to the Quality Listening Program, Listener Coach Request Form, AL Tests, or all - anything that makes the most sense in the context of the post. The second example is actually one of the simplest ways of cross-collaboration. Whenever you make a forum post, think over if there is a related project or community resource you can link to in your post. Making a gratitude post? Share away the appreciation form! Making a post about time management? Time to spotlight the Academy Time Management Course [https://www.7cups.com/forum/academy/AcademyPrograms_2311/7CupsAcademyTimeManagementCourse_280718/] or link to another community resource on time management. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/TimeManagement_79997/] Got the idea? A collaborative attitude is the key to making our community the most beautiful and helpful. Just your thought and willingness is all that it takes! Do you have collaborative experience? Please share your thoughts and tips, if you have them!

Leadership and Recognition Incentives

by Heather225

September 25th, 2023

...See more Our community is fueled by (com)passion, and driven by the countless hours our volunteers pour into their work to care for one another. This service is rewarding and made even more so by hearing confirmation of your positive impact. Every time you show appreciation to someone, you’re making a deposit in their emotional bank account. You’re building up their self-esteem, validating their effort, and inspiring them to keep doing good. Even just a simple thank you can be a morale boost. It makes us feel seen. Plus the more you highlight the contributions of others, the more inclined they’ll be to collaborate [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/ExploringMethodsofLeadershipCollaborationAcrosstheCommunity_313417/] with you and have your back. I’d like us as leaders to reflect and answer the following questions in the replies: 🌟 In what way(s) do you like to be acknowledged? What acts of recognition are your favorite to receive? 🌟 How do you express gratitude for your fellow leaders? - Here are some ways you can utilize the community’s resources to show appreciation: Peer Appreciation [https://www.7cups.com/forum/gratitude/AppreciationProgram_2310/PeerAppreciationProgram_262230/] - Our strongest ongoing peer-to-peer appreciation initiative run by the community for the community and everyone is encouraged to take part Leadership Spotlight [https://www.7cups.com/forum/projectsandevents/LeadershipSpotlight_2282/] - The entire community can nominate leaders from all levels to be featured in their own highlight post Project Tulip [https://www.7cups.com/forum/gratitude/AppreciationProgram_2310/ProjectTulip_224864/] - To further show our appreciation and provide a way for the community to acknowledge dedicated listeners, members can nominate a listener for a special badge Please list any others that deserve mention!

Introducing the "7 Cups Leader" Badge

by Heather225

August 27th, 2023

Forum Supporter Guide: Validation

by MonBon

August 9th, 2023

...See more Hey guys :) I'm trying out this thing where I post topic guides to common issues forum supporters encounter. This one is about validation. if you like it, I may post more! ~MonBon What Does Validation Mean? What is âvalidation and what does that mean? In a 1-on-1, we are encouraged to validate the member/guests feelings and experiences, which a lot of people mistake as assuming they are right. While to invalidate a persons experience is to say they are wrong or their feelings and experiences dont matter, validating a persons experience is merely to say: Hey, if you feel this way, thats okay and it matters. It happened. As this article says, Validation doesnt mean agreeing or approving. Instead, validation is acceptance of your or someone elses feelings, choices, actions, or thoughts as understandable and as fact. What are some common misconceptions and mistakes we make with validation? Saying that an action, decision, or feeling is right. Say a member is angry with a friend and lashed out at them. As a supporter, we can say I understand youre frustrated or I can see why you might have lashed out. But a mistake would be to say You were correct to lash out or You should be angry. Condemning the other person involved in the interaction. The only people who know what happened are the member and the other person involved. We, as supporters, do not know what happened so a mistake would be to say, Your friend acted incorrectly or Your friend isnt being reasonable. We do not know what happened, we cannot act like we do. In 1-on-1s this doesnt seem as obvious as a problem. Only you and your member will see the conversation, so it doesnt really affect the other person in question. In the forums or in group chat settings, this dynamic completely changes. The listener or member being discussed can quite possibly see this interaction between you as a supporter and the member or listener that you are validating. You risk invalidating the other persons experience while not really achieving your original purpose. Take a common example seen in the forums: Member: My listener was awful and didnt seem to understand me at all. Then they blocked me so now I cant even report them. This site is definitely going down the toilet. As supporters, we tend to jump in and say, I am so sorry that happened to you, I agree they are a terrible listener and if you need to message me you totally can because I wont be like that! But there are a few problems with that. You are assuming that everything that member is saying is fact, and while we never assume they are lying, we cannot *know* that they are telling us the whole story or that they didnt misunderstand the situation. A unique situation that arises in the forum or in the group chatrooms is that the other participant in the 1-on-1 will possibly see this complaint. The only two people who know what happened in the 1-on-1 are the member and the listener, so when you assume that the first person to complain about the situation is the one in the right, you risk invalidating the other participant. A better way to handle this is to respond similarly to this: You: Im sorry that you had a negative experience, sometimes a member and listener dont click well for any number of reasons and that can be very frustrating :( If you feel your listener acted incorrectly you can report them by submitting a support ticket here [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=360002045973]. I encourage you to try again with another listener! I hope your experience is more positive in the future :) In this way you are not assuming either party acted correctly or incorrectly while still validating the members experience. Another common example in the forums and in the listener group chats: Listener: My member was totally unreasonable and now Im going to get a report, thats unfair!! Why do I always get the troll members?? Again, we tend to jump in and say, I understand! It sucks to get terrible members. Dont take it personally. Do we know what happened between that listener and member? Is it fair to call a member terrible? Even if they are being unreasonable? The answer to all of these is no. It is true that sometimes a member and a listener dont mesh well and that neither of them should take it personally. The forum post "Knowing when to distance yourself" [https://www.7cups.com/forum/ListenerLearningJourney_149/TipsampHelpfulHintsforListening_61/Knowingwhentodistanceyourself_25959/] [L] outlines this very eloquently. While keeping that in mind, there is no way for us to know that this is the case, so we cannot in good faith tell a listener that they are or are not at fault, and we especially cannot shove the blame onto the member. As before, this member might see this post whether its in the public forum, listeners only forum, or the listener chatrooms. If we shove the blame onto the member, we are invalidating their experience and assuming things we simply cannot know. I hope this post helps you to understand what validation is and how we can all validate each other in a more helpful and positive way. Thank you for reading. ~MonBon [L] indicates a Listener only thread

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