Want people to change? Make them feel safe

To bypass the first layer of the mental defense system, put down your weapons.

Hi everybody!

Here is your tip of the week PLUS two inspiring quotes and three curious questions to ask yourself and others.

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1 Smart Tip

To increase your political influence:

When talking with someone you think is wrong, start by putting them at ease. Even if their beliefs are reprehensible, don’t call them out, ostracize, or otherwise make them feel bad. Why? Because, as Adam Grant explains in Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, “Under acute stress, people typically revert to their automatic, well-learned responses.” In other words, when people feel they are being attacked, they’re too focused on defending themselves to learn something new. If you want people to master new ways of thinking and behaving, first help them feel comfortable-enough to rethink their perspective by refraining from criticism and judgment.

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2 Smart Quotes

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -- Maya Angelou

“A student who is concerned for personal safety cannot learn.”  -- Virginia Smith

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3 Smart Questions

1. What is something you changed your mind about that you thought you’d never change your mind about?

2. What person in your life has had the biggest influence on the way you think about politics?

3. How do you think your political opinions would be different if you’d been raised in a household guided by different political beliefs? (E.g. raised in a Republican rather than Democratic household?)

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Until next week,

Karin Tamerius