Thursday, March 7, 2024

FEEDBACK AND ADVICE Within Samson Society Meetings

"We address our statements to the group as a whole rather than directing them toward any one person. As a rule, we refrain from giving advice to others or instructing them during the meeting, believing that such conversations are best reserved for private moments between friends."

In an open forum like a Samson meeting or a Slack channel, sharing can sometimes degenerate into preaching or arguing. When that happens, men tend to respond in one of two ways: 1) they shut down completely, or 2) they raise the volume in an attempt to be heard. Either way, communication suffers.Something similar happens when a man is given feedback he didn't ask for, especially if it comes from a relative stranger. He gets defensive, and communication suffers. That's why the Guidelines for Sharing that we read in every Samson meeting apply here in Slack too. If you feel the need to instruct, correct, or rebuke a brother for something he has shared here, please do so privately, through direct message, and then only after asking his permission. And remember: every man is different. What worked for you may not work for him, so please offer your feedback in a spirit of humility.

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