Hi John,

Finding yourself irritated or frustrated by those with a different political view? We can help. Today we share tips on how to prepare for a meaningful political discussion, how to find respect for those with different viewpoints, and how to keep cool in heated moments.
How to Talk to People You Don’t Respect
by Justin Hale

I feel like our current discussions of politics and social issues are so divisive. I struggle to engage with them and frankly, I disagree with many of them—even when they are the opinions of my friends, family, and neighbors. It’s hard for me to understand how people can have the opinions they have. It's hard for me to understand how people can have the opinions they do, and I honestly struggle to respect them. Yet, it’s important to have respect for those we have relationships with. So, how can I respect someone whose opinions seem hard to respect? How can I engage in these kinds of conversations when I know I disagree so vehemently?

Signed,
Disenchanted

This is a challenge we all experience—likely on a daily basis. We are constantly exposed to other people’s behavior or ideas we completely disagree with and often disapprove of. However, it is important to find a sense of Mutual Respect and Mutual Purpose in those conversations and interactions. How do we do that when we feel so completely different from the other person and his or her opinions or perspectives? Let me share an experience that helped me see this concept in a new light.
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How Do I Say That?

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How to Talk Politics with Friends and Family with Different Views

Crucial Conversations coauthor Emily Gregory gives tips on how to keep things cordial and constructive when talking politics with loved ones, especially those with different political views.
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Civility in a Divided Democracy: 5 Crucial Conversations Skills to Talk Politics

Make this election cycle and future political discourse more civil with these five skills.
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When we began our work 35 years ago, we studied influential leaders to see what they did that others didn’t. You know what we discovered? They handled crucial moments differently. Join Joseph Grenny, cofounder of Crucial Learning, to learn more about our early research and how it contributed to developing the courses and skills we teach today.
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We all lose when bullying and personal attacks become a substitute for genuine conversation and principled disagreement.
 
—Alicia Garza