THE EFFECTIVE PROBLEMSOLVER #063
It’s increasingly evident that politics has infiltrated nearly every facet of tackling issues like crime and homelessness.
While it’s natural for differing perspectives to exist, the entrenchment of political ideologies often acts as a significant barrier to progress.
In this blog post, I’ll delve into why this is detrimental.
Then, I’ll give 3 principles and 7 practical steps you can take to depoliticize your approach to problem-solving, resulting in better local relationships and more impact.
The Perils of Political Entanglement
Politics, by its nature, tends to polarize discussions.
When applied to issues like crime and homelessness, this polarization becomes particularly damaging.
Instead of focusing on practical solutions, conversations get derailed into debates over ideological stances or party agendas.
For instance, consider the issue of homelessness: based on pre-existing political beliefs, one side might advocate for increased funding for social services, while the other might emphasize personal responsibility and market-based solutions.
When these positions are rigidly held without an openness to understanding the nuances of local context, progress stalls, and real people continue to suffer.
Finding Common Ground
Despite these challenges, there’s hope.
When individuals from opposing ideological spectrums engage in genuine dialogue about the local issues at hand, they often discover surprising areas of agreement.
Take, for example, the conversation I mentioned above between the staunch conservative and the progressive regarding strategies to address homelessness.
Rather than fixating on their ideological differences and rhetorical talking points, they might recognize shared concerns about public safety in a nearby neighborhood, economic opportunity for a target population, and human dignity for all community residents.
By reframing the conversation around these common (local and non-theoretical) goals, they could identify pragmatic steps forward, such as implementing targeted job training programs, enhancing mental health services, or fostering partnerships with local businesses.
3 Timeless Principles for Depoliticizing Problem Solving
As you consider how you could begin depoliticizing your local problemsolving efforts, here are some guiding principles.
- Focus on Shared Values: Begin discussions by identifying common values or goals, such as community well-being, public safety, or economic prosperity. Emphasize these shared objectives to build a foundation for collaboration, transcending political divides.
- Listen Actively: Practice active listening to understand the perspectives of others without immediately dismissing or attacking them based on political affiliations. Genuine understanding paves the way for productive dialogue and consensus-building.
- Prioritize Local Solutions: Shift the focus from national politics to local initiatives. By working within our communities, we can sidestep the gridlock of partisan politics and enact meaningful change on the ground, where it matters most.
Practical Steps for Progress
Principles are great, but they can sound kind-of like trying to get enemies to sing “Kumbaya.”
You’re probably thinking, “Those theoretical ideas are impractical because the other side just doesn’t care…” about “people who are oppressed” or about “solution effectiveness.”
But it really is possible to translate these principles into action.
When I’ve done it – and I’ve done it many times even though it isn’t always enjoyable – it always starts with a commitment to meet in-person with all stakeholders and listen to their perspectives.
Just forget your agenda for a moment and buy them a cup of coffee.
You wouldn’t believe how much goodwill is generated.
For those of you who want the nitty gritty details, here are exact steps you should take today to foster constructive collaboration with individuals who may disagree with you due to political differences:
- Meet with Everyone, Regardless of Politics: Reach out to individuals from diverse political backgrounds and perspectives. Invite them to engage in dialogue, emphasizing your shared interest in finding solutions to local issues like crime and homelessness.
- Extend an Invitation for Coffee: Initiate conversations by inviting them for coffee or a casual meeting. Clearly express your intention to understand their perspective better and to explore potential areas of collaboration. Remember, listening more than talking is key to building rapport and trust.
- Avoid Persuasion in Initial Meetings: Resist the urge to persuade others of your point of view, especially in the first meeting. Instead, focus on actively listening to their concerns, experiences, and ideas without judgment.
- Redirect Conversations to Local Issues: Whenever discussions veer toward national politics or ideological debates, gently steer them back to the local issue at hand. Emphasize your collective desire to make tangible progress within the community.
- Propose Follow-Up Meetings: Express your commitment to ongoing dialogue and collaboration by suggesting follow-up meetings. Inform them that you’re meeting with various stakeholders and aim to share collective insights and potential solutions in future discussions.
- Seek Genuine Personal Connections: Look for opportunities to connect with individuals on a personal level, beyond politics. Find common ground in shared interests, hobbies, or experiences to foster genuine connections and build trust.
- Identify Common Values and Test Support for Small Improvements: Work collaboratively to identify common values and goals among diverse stakeholders. Propose small-scale initiatives or pilot projects that align with these shared values and are feasible to implement. Test these ideas for small improvements that many different people could agree to try, laying the groundwork for long-term progress.
Remember, these steps may not yield immediate change, but they lay the foundation for constructive dialogue, collaboration, and ultimately, meaningful progress in addressing complex social problems.
By prioritizing relationships over politics and focusing on shared goals, we can overcome divisiveness and work together toward a brighter future in our own local communities.
That’s a recipe for success regardless of toxic politics.
See you next week.
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→ I’m a strategic advisor for the toughest societal problems like poverty, crime and homelessness. People come to me when they want to stop spinning their wheels and get transformative, systems-level change.
→ I’m a coach for emerging and executive leaders in the social and public sectors who want to make progress on their biggest goals and challenges.
Let’s find out how I can help you become transformational.
