How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching Starts With Non Violent Communication | Page 22

Template for writing public policy letters
1. Objective Observations
Write your observations of what your issue is, what other people (this may include research
reports) are saying about the issue, without analyzing and without judgment. Inform your reader as
clearly and precisely as possible as to what the issue is, without interpretation or analysis
2. Feelings and Needs
Divide into triads. Read your description of your issue to two other people. Obtain any feedback
about clarifying your observations so that they are free of interpretations and analysis. Ask your
two partners to "guess" what you might be feeling and needing in relation to the issue: " Are you
feeling ______ because you are needing ______?"
Even if they are wrong in their guess, they will help you clarify what you are feeling and needing.
Spend about 5 minutes per person on clarifying feelings and needs. Refer to appendices if
necessary.
3. Requests
In triads, try to formulate clear, specific doable requests of the person you are writing to
- the more succinct these requests are, the
better! Acknowledge that you understand the
organizational network the person is
embedded in and that your request is made
cognizant of this. You may also request a
written response by a given d