To help our participants get the most from their experience with
Common Purpose, we ask them to respect the following conventions during
the course.
These “rules of engagement” have evolved over many years and have proved
their worth in helping us to deliver high quality, challenging
programmes which provide value for the time they spend with us. They
apply to everyone involved in a Common Purpose event.
Be open – and open-minded
Be prepared to hear views that you may not normally wish to hear -
and be willing to learn something from them. You will certainly hear
views expressed with which you deeply disagree; we take the view that
leaders need to know what other people are thinking, in order to be
better able to work with, against or around them.
Avoid both giving and taking offence
It is important that everyone feels able to say what they really
think. When views are articulated bluntly or clumsily, we ask you to
suspend instant judgment and enter into constructive discussion on them.
We also ask you to communicate in a respectful way and to listen to any
feedback as to why your ideas or language might cause offence.
Be a leader
Make sure that your contributions are to the point - and be prepared
to ask the difficult questions. Speak as yourself. Support fellow
participants when they have the courage to go out on a limb. On courses , do not delegate issues to the Programme Director if the
group is better placed to deal with them.
Be engaged – and positive
Show commitment. On courses, make arrangements so that you can
attend each event in full, keep to the timings given, prepare yourself
well and ensure that you are not interrupted. Be fair and respectful in
your dealings with other participants and graduates. If you can’t help
someone, say so. If someone can’t help you, accept this. Use shared
knowledge and experience for positive ends.
Adhere strictly to the Chatham House Rule of confidentiality
Contributors, participants and graduates must feel that they can talk
openly and gain insights from each other, so we observe the Chatham
House Rule. This international rule states that speakers are: “free to
use the information received, but neither the identity nor the
affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be
revealed; nor may it be mentioned that the information was received at
the meeting". This rule does not apply to online activities.