How to Bridge Divides

Ideas and tips to get along and get stuff done-------- ------------- -July 18, 2024

What to say when you hear something shocking

Question: I was on Maine Calling last week and Jennifer Rooks asked me: “Craig I think everyone has had a situation where we're chatting with someone - maybe it's a neighbor or we're at a party - and the person says something that surprises you, that you disagree with, that you find unkind. What do you recommend?”

Answer: When I am my best self I am not reacting in a negative way. I'm pausing. And then I'm asking a question.

That is my go-to strategy when I am up against the wall or in a hard place or surprised or shaken and I don't know what to do. I will ask a question in a non-judgmental way. Like, wow that's interesting; what made you think of that? Or, that's an interesting view; can you tell me more about that? Asking a question like that does a couple things.

One, it gives me a couple moments to think about how I really want to answer. Is this something that I'm going confront or am I going to just keep my head down on this issue or am I going to engage in a conversation? I get a few moments to consider that.

Continued and Comments Here

Bridging the Divide

Maine Calling interviews

communications professor

Dr. Liliana Herakova

and author Craig Freshley

Here's a link to the whole show with highlights noted below. Quotes in italics.

It’s not about overcoming differences, it’s about honoring our differences. 4:45
Strategies for pushing back on the power of social media. 6:20
It’s hard to hate people up close. 9:00
High touch rather than high tech. 9:36
Everyone has a good reason for what they believe. 12:15
Lily’s story about the person with the Trump hat. 13:28
I worked internally. 15:56
How to react when someone says something shocking. 17:22
Supportive and defensive communications climates. 24.12
The dark qualities of social media: anonymity and shutting out. 26:06
Views of right wing talk radio. 31:40
About loneliness and how it contributes to entrenchment. 33:03
People are choosing simple belief systems, not necessarily tethered to facts. 34:40
A caller’s sign: “You are now entering a politics free zone.” 39:33
Strategies for engaging right-leaning people. 44:12
What does it mean to live as if you are staying? 49:56

Learn about Dr. Herakova here. It was a pleasure to talk with her and Jennifer Rooks.

Learn about Maine Calling here, the call-in show on Maine Public Radio.

How to Talk to an Adversary

with Respect

Click here for a Free One-Pager --->

Five simple steps for how to have a conversation with someone across a divide; someone you disagree with.

Did you know that Good Group Decisions members get access to hundreds of handouts (like this) and videos about group decision making?

And that membership is free?

Learn more here.

How to collaborate even when we disagree

This is the title of a Keynote I've been doing lately. The talk provides 6 principles for collaboration and plenty of audience interaction. I tell stories from my book, Together We Decide, and ask questions of the audience.

People walk away with practical tools that are immediately available, and with inspiration to actually pick up the tools and take a step.

It doesn’t have to be like this. It’s not us vs. them. It’s just us. In this Keynote, I explain that the solution is mostly about attitude.

Consider inviting me to light up your audience. Learn about my Keynotes here.

Who Runs America? What’s the Best System?

This month, Building Bridges - the Maine affiliate of Braver Angels - will be addressing an issue that is essential to seeing two sides of the same issue. Enterprise or Government Regulation?

The debate over private enterprise versus government regulation is multifaceted, with various arguments on both sides. This is a core difference in our national life today; to be discussed by Josh Tardy, a former leading legislator and now lobbyist, and Garrett Martin, the Executive Director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy.

Learn more and register here.

Meeting Facilitation Basics

A flash course on how to run collaborative AND efficient meetings

Wednesday August 28 1pm EDT

Free. Online. 50mins.

Meetings don't have to be bad. This session will be a crash course for running meetings that are both collaborative AND efficient. The things we cover apply to both online meetings and in-person meetings.

In just 50 minutes I'm going to share with you four essential things that good meeting facilitators do to make their meetings great. I'm also going to explain how to make an agenda and the key things that go into planning for a really good meeting. And I'm going to explain some practical tips that you can start using right away.

Further, I’m going to ask you to share YOUR tips and strategies for meeting facilitation. And answer your questions. It’s a TALK Show; we’re gonna talk about this. We’re going to learn from each other. And support each other. After the session I will provide each participant with Highlight Notes from what we discussed, including links to resources.

My Training Talk Shows are always free. Always interactive. Just 50 minutes online.

WEDNESDAY, August 28, 2024, 1pm MaineTime Register Here

Local Peeps!

Saturday, July 20

4:30pm to 8:30pm

30 East Coxon Road

Brunswick, Maine

I'm gonna be the MC. It would be so fun to see you there!

Details here.

Did you know I'm a Taylor Swift fan?

Did you know that I'm going to see her, live and in-person, in, like, just over a week?

I'm gonna be posting about it on Instagram if you want to tag along for some Swiftie shenanigans.

Follow me here.

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