- Try to hold the meeting in person if possible, but not over a holiday or during a family celebration, when emotions may already be running high. Avoid email, as it can lead to misunderstanding.
- Hold the meeting in a space where everyone feels comfortable. Familiar places can reinforce old habits, so a neutral location may be preferable.
- Err on the side of inclusiveness, especially at the beginning of the process. Inviting all family members, including spouses, ensures that everyone hears the same information firsthand.
- Take a walk on the land beforehand if possible to give everyone an opportunity to reflect on what the land means to him or her.
- Ask everyone to avoid making assumptions and try to keep an open mind. Criticize ideas, not people.
- Give everyone an equal opportunity to share his or her thoughts. This may mean encouraging quiet family members to talk and asking more vocal ones to listen.
- Use questions or "tell me more about that" to explore underlying concerns and interests.
- Be clear about who is responsible for what and when. Establish follow-up tasks and deadlines.
- Use the services of a trained facilitator if family dynamics suggest that your family needs assistance conducting healthy conversations and reaching consensus.
Center for Private Forests
Address
416 Forest Resources BuildingUniversity Park, PA 16802
- Email PrivateForests@psu.edu
- Office 814-863-0401
- Fax 814-865-6275
Center for Private Forests
Address
416 Forest Resources BuildingUniversity Park, PA 16802
- Email PrivateForests@psu.edu
- Office 814-863-0401
- Fax 814-865-6275
