Conscious agreements
Where we come from...
The basis of our methodology is Conscious Contracts, an innovative methodology from the United States, which we learned directly from specialists such as Kim Wright. https://consciouscontracts.com/user/j+kim+wright/
Conscious Contracts are processes that serve to generate trusting relationships. It is about the parties being able to self-regulate, empowering themselves, without the need for the intervention of a third party. Legal professionals accompany, without directing, so that the parties can find their own solutions.
The basis of this process is mutual knowledge and commitment and the adaptation to the needs of the parties and their interests, like a tailor-made suit. Conscious Agreements processes are flexible, lively, focused on collaboration, innovation and creativity. Moreover, they use simple language so that they are easily understood by all.
They are legal contracts, suitable for 21st century lawyering.ontravcts
Where we are going...
Starting from Conscious Contracts, our methodology has evolved thanks to the introduction of new tools and techniques of social innovation based on neuroscience and technology. We have developed an online process based on techniques such as Design Thinking, Appreciative Inquiry, gamification and negotiation style enquiry, among others. The agreement process is carried out through an online platform, which allows it to be done remotely, thus improving its efficiency
Our process consists of 5 phases
- Phase 1: FIRST CONTACT. This phase is used to get to know each other and explain the process. In this phase, the interests of both parties in the collaboration and the negotiation style of each of them are investigated.
- Phase 2: DEEPENING MUTUAL KNOWLEDGE.Why, what for and how. This phase is key in the process as it analyses whether the necessary trust is in place to start a collaborative relationship. We go deeper into mutual knowledge, focusing on why and what we want to collaborate for (what interests us to start this relationship, what we want to achieve and what bothers us if it happens) and how we will do it, through the work on values. In this way, it is ascertained whether there is alignment between the parties in terms of objectives and how to carry them out.
- Phase 3: COLLABORATIVE NEGOTIATION. The roadmap for this collaboration is defined from creativity and simplicity, using Appreciative Inquiry, Design Thinking and graphic language as a means of communication. A very efficient way to define how the collaborative relationship will be.
- Phase 4: CO-DESIGN OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT. Collaboratively, using the Appreciative Inquiry technique, we explore how the parties need the process to be in case of conflict. And the Peace Pact is drawn up, which is the consensual guide for resolving possible conflicts during the collaboration.
- Phase 5: SIGNING THE AGREEMENT Once the design of the Peace Pact is completed, the Conscious Agreement is signed, with the essential elements of the process.
WHAT MOTIVATES US TO ACT?
Values are the fundamental link between our beliefs and our behaviour. They move us and guide us in our day-to-day lives and they also change over time depending on the context and what we need. For this reason, becoming aware of what our values are helps us to set a course in our lives.
Through gamification, the game The Value of Values initiates a different conversation between the parties that allows us to get to know ourselves better in less time.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO COLLABORATE?
Appreciative Inquiry is a process that focuses on becoming aware of the strengths and opportunities to build a relationship.
It involves asking and asking questions aimed at getting positive answers that move us forward, diluting the issues, involving all parties in the conversation.
We use Appreciative Inquiry in several phases of the Conscious Agreement, first in the Collaborative Negotiation, to develop the roadmap for collaboration, and later in the Peace Pact, when we co-design how future conflicts or unexpected changes will be managed.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICTS?
The Peace Pact is a very important part of the process. It consists of imagining how we will feel when an unexpected change or conflict occurs between us, how we would react and how we would like to deal with it in order to resolve it.
Through Appreciative Inquiry and Design Thinking we co-design the conflict resolution processes when the relationship is in a good moment, like a tailor-made suit for the parties.
A process with three fundamental elements
Why, for what and how
Appreciative inquiry
Peace Pact
What are Conscious Agreements for?
The Conscious Agreements are designed to facilitate knowledge and the generation of intelligent trust between the parties, determine if a positive collaboration is possible and accompany people to find their own satisfactory and equitable solutions, avoiding as far as possible that a third party, judge or referee is who gives the solution.
At MJASL we have developed, systematized and optimized the Conscious Agreements for their application in the cession of housing, collaboration agreements and employment contracts.
Home cession
Process focused on generating confidence in the owners to put the empty house into use.
Collaboration
Process to explore common interests with potential collaborators and design the collaboration.
Labor Hiring
Process oriented to the selection of personnel based on the generation of trust and commitment between the parties.
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