Mission Statement

Human beings have a deep need for "belonging"— for being a reciprocal and respected part of the web of human connection;

Traditional communication methods have been based on the "rules of war" and actually function to destroy the essential bond among individuals and groups by systematically creating power struggle.

Power struggle functions as an addiction, because of which winning can become more important than our own ethics, family relationships, and professional performance;

Like all addictions, the addiction to power struggle is progressive in nature. As our connections to each other become increasingly damaged, people become more deeply alienated, leading to more intense violence and war at all levels in our world community.

Given our level of technological ability to create and use instruments of mass destruction, we face the ominous possibility that we will destroy ourselves and our planet if we do not make a dramatic change in how we listen and speak to each other;

This "war model" for communication has existed for so long that it is simply part of the fabric of our lives — a given — mostly unquestioned, unexamined, and unwittingly accepted as integral to human nature;

It is not realistic to expect world leaders to create peace across huge cultural divides when we often do not know how to get out of power struggle either at our own breakfast table or in the office staff meeting.

To the goal of teaching Powerful Non-Defensive Communication, a new communication model that is open, direct, sincere, honest, vulnerable, and can eliminate power struggle;

This model gives us the tools necessary to deal with conflict in a way that can lead to genuine, creative resolutions while honoring diverse needs and goals.

To model the power of non-defensive communication first in our own behavior, treating each person and group with dignity and respect — even in cases where we find the person/group engaging in attitudes and actions that we consider dangerous to society;

At the same time, we will speak clearly and honestly about our own beliefs regarding the need to eradicate attitudes and behaviors that alienate people from each other through misunderstanding, prejudice, hatred, or violence.

Showing that non-defensive communication is a powerful tool for providing the practical skills necessary to immediately begin to create a different way of living, a habit of being that fosters healing, productivity, and abundance.