Big Think 5 conversation skills that enhance your rational brain | Irshad Manji
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Sep 6, 2025 Irshad Manji, an influential educator and advocate for harnessing diversity, shares her insights on constructive conversations. She introduces five essential skills: taking deep breaths to clear the mind, finding common ground, asking sincere questions, actively listening to learn, and encouraging dialogue with open-ended prompts like "Tell me more." Manji emphasizes that our willingness to engage in discussions rooted in understanding, rather than defensiveness, is key to fostering collaboration and uniting diverse perspectives.
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Diversity Is Inherent And Provokes Defense
- Diversity is a fact of life and not a human construct.
- Our brains scan for threats constantly, making differing views trigger defensive reactions.
Labels Hide Human Complexity
- Primitive brain responses make us lash back at opposing views more than we intend.
- Labeling people hides their evolving humanity and deepens division.
From Culture Warrior To Teacher
- Irshad recounts her past as a culture warrior who had to win at all costs.
- Her approach made critics more defensive and blocked real progress.