Your voice matters more than ever—use it!
LEARN
Civil Discourse
“Civil” and “discourse” seem to be mentioned together less often in these turbulent political times. Although it may feel like we’re trapped in a culture war with no end in sight, civil discourse offers a path toward communicating and understanding the differences of opinion that help democracies thrive.
Approach disagreements with the lens of finding an opportunity to turn discourse into action.
3 Quick Tips
01.
Set ground rules for the conversation. Emotions can easily take over when conversations turn political. Create a foundation based on common courtesy and rules that prioritize open communication, curiosity, and sticking to agreed upon topics.
02.
Focus on listening. Rather than listening to respond, encourage everyone to listen for opportunities to ask open-ended follow-up questions. Understanding someone else’s perspective can move the conversation forward.
03.
Disagreement doesn’t have to lead to an argument. Reasonable people can disagree. Approach disagreements with the lens of it being an opportunity to find common ground, especially when tackling a complex issue.
