15 Minutes May Be All the Time We Need to Help America

15 Minutes May Be All the Time We Need to Help America

As one of the most historic and tumultuous months in American history winds down, I’ve been reflecting on a bit of wisdom often quoted by my friend and colleague of more than 40 years, Jim Breslawski: 

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

That quote, attributed to the philosopher Epictetus, is as true today as it was in ancient Greece. The proof can be found in this article in USA Today, written by the political scientists Matthew Levendusky and Dominik Stecula.

In 2019, Levendusky and Stecula brought together more than 500 Democrats and Republicans to discuss political issues. Here’s the hopeful news:

“We found that a 15-minute, in-person conversation with members of the other party dramatically reduced partisan hostility relative to those who only talked to others from their own party,” the researchers wrote.

And it gets better.

“One of the most heart-warming aspects of conducting our study was the number of times participants came up to us afterward and told us how enjoyable it was,” according to Levendusky and Stecula. “They expected to shout at the other side, but instead were able to find common ground and bridge the partisan divide.”

That’s wisdom at work, and that’s what America needs more of – right now. While the pandemic may not allow us to meet in person, technology allows us to meet almost anyone across this great nation for 15 minutes of real, sincere, genuine listening.

Finding your political opposite isn’t hard nowadays – the listening is the hard part. Our country needs us to listen to one another for just 15 minutes. We should heed the call, because we have no time to waste.

Matt Gassel

Director of DSO Sales at ACE Surgical Supply Co., Inc.

4 年

I value your suggestion, Stan and agree that understanding of where someone who sees the world differently is coming from is a worthwhile thing. Too often it seems, we want to make people who disagree with us into "the other". That line of thinking can justify all kinds of behavior that would not be acceptable if we truly saw each other as people. Thanks for putting this out there!

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Heather Knull

Independent Implementation Consultant at Self-Employed

4 年

These conversations needs one guideline- Like my grandmother used to say “no talk about money or religion.”

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Yes! This is such a thoughtful and spot-on piece. Thank you for sharing and for inspiring.

Kurt Schwarz

Vice President of Sales | MBA @ Newmedical Technology, Inc.

4 年

Love this

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