Award-winning journalist Celeste Headlee discusses the politicization of decisions, importance of listening in conversations, and need for empathy. She emphasizes honesty when unsure, finding common ground with questions, and the value of genuine connection. Resources mentioned include her book 'We Need to Talk' and TED Talk on better conversations.
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Increased Political Polarization
Today's political conversations are more politicized than ever, affecting nearly every aspect of life, making avoidance nearly impossible.
Political division and bias in the U.S. have significantly increased, reaching unprecedented levels.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Relieve Pressure by Learning
Let go of the burden to convince others when conversing; focus instead on learning from them.
Approach conversations with genuine curiosity, which relieves pressure and reduces conflict.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Separate Discussion and Decisions
Separate conversation phases: first listen and discuss ideas openly, then make decisions and delegate.
Avoid multitasking by clearly structuring meetings into discussion and decision stages to save time and increase clarity.
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Celeste Headlee: We Need to Talk
Celeste Headlee is an award-winning journalist who has appeared on NPR, PBS World, PRI, CNN, BBC and other international networks. She hosts a daily talk show called “On Second Thought” for Georgia Public Broadcasting in Atlanta. She’s the author of the book We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter*.
Key Points
Dysfunctional conversations (especially about politics) are nothing new. What is new is how virtually every decision we make has been politicized.
When in a conversation, let go of the burden of trying to convince someone of something.
Listen to someone to hear their perspective rather than only waiting to hear what they say just so you can refute it.
When you’re trying to take in information, you cannot also be holding an agenda.
If you don’t know an answer, don’t try to hide it. Just say, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
People have less empathy towards others than they used to.
It’s possible to find something in common with almost anyone if you ask a few questions.
Resources Mentioned
We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter* by Celeste Headlee
10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation (Celeste’s TED talk)
Don’t Find a Job, Find a Mission
Help Make America Talk Again
Book Notes
Download my highlights from We Need to Talk in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
How to Know What to Ask, with Andrew Warner (episode 198)
Use Power for Good and Not Evil, with Dacher Keltner (episode 254)
How to Increase Your Conversational Intelligence, with with Judith Glaser (episode 271)
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