In September, AWIS had the pleasure of working with Braver Angels to host a workshop on Skills for Disagreeing Better. Braver Angels is leading the nation’s largest crosspartisan, volunteer-led movement to bridge the partisan divide for the good of our democratic republic.
The workshop focuses on improving skills for effective communication across political differences. A key expectation is to approach conversations without trying to change others’ views, instead aiming to be seen as reasonable and open to dialogue.
Braver Angels uses L.A.P.P. Skills for facilitating between people with differing political beliefs. The acronym stands for listen, acknowledge, pivot, and perspective. Let’s explore how to apply each letter in these difficult conversations.
Listen
Turn off your inner debater so you can listen carefully to what is being said. Be able to summarize what the person is saying. Focus on the other person’s viewpoint and their underlying concerns. Look for agreements in what they are saying. Is there something that also resonates with your values and viewpoints?
Acknowledge
In this next step, you will provide your summary of what you heard. This is also a chance to get clarification by asking, “Did I understand you correctly?” If there are points you agreed with, let them know. You want to create an environment where the other person feels safe to discuss further.
Pivot
In this step, you may want to express your viewpoint. Ask if you can share your feelings and values on the topic. Give some context on why your perspective should be added to the conversation. Wait for the “yes,” whether verbal or nonverbal, before you start speaking. If that person is not ready for you to share, then you may have to do more listening until the person is open to hearing what you have to say.
Perspective
Finally, share your perspective! When you are expressing your thoughts, use “I” statements. Don’t try to speak for a group of people, speak to your own experience and values. If there’s research or credible sources, use them to support your thinking. Become a storyteller! People connect with stories and ideas they can visualize, especially if it’s about people they know or something that is relatable. Reintroduce the point(s) they mentioned earlier that you agreed with. Be sure avoid negative labels, stereotyping, and group attacking.
This workshop was a great way to establish a baseline of effective communication with the people in your life and community. If you missed this event and want to attend a Braver Angels session, join them on November 23, 2024 for their Families and Politics workshop. You can watch the webinar replay here.
Jade Forde graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor’s in communication and master’s degree in digital strategy from the University of Florida. She has almost ten years of experience in social media, content creation, website maintenance, online communities, graphic design, newsletters, and email marketing.