Tuck’s Ground Rules for Navigating Difficult Conversations


At Tuck, students strive to connect and build trust with their classmates and the community. These seven ground rules help provide the safety of structure so you can be yourself while learning and teaching with others. It is impossible to learn without engaging with those who think differently. Discomfort is a part of intellectual growth.
 

Tuck's Ground Rules for Navigating Difficult Conversations

1.

 You are where you are.   Each of you brings to Tuck unique experiences, perspectives, and ideas. No one expects you to have all the answers. Learn to be comfortable with very different experiences, perspectives, and ideas.

 
2.

 You are here to teach and to learn.   Your goal is to become wise and decisive, as with all parts of Tuck. Great leaders are great teachers, and great teachers are great learners. Strive for a lifelong commitment to cultural learning.

 
3.

 Listen more than you talk.   Listening well is a vital part of teaching and learning. Your biggest learnings most often come when your mouth is closed, not open. Allow everyone the chance to speak. Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

 
4.

 Critique the idea, not the individual.   Tuck’s uniquely immersive learning community depends on the inclusion of every voice. Do not be afraid to respectfully challenge one another by asking questions. Try to critique the idea, not the individual. Take good care of yourself in the moment: it is okay to delay or exit a discussion.

 
5.

 Bring empathy, grace, and confidentiality.   Learning to recover from mistakes is a key leadership skill. If you hurt or offend someone, first strive to understand how and why, then take accountability and make amends.

 
6.

 Mistakes are inevitable, make things right.   Learning to recover from mistakes is a key leadership skill. If you hurt or offend someone, first strive to understand how and why, then take accountability and make amends.