371. Uniting Toward a Better Future with Diana McLain Smith

Psychologists Off the Clock

What if the key to healing our fractured society lies not in silencing our differences, but in harnessing them?

In this conversation with Diana M. Smith, a renowned thought leader in conflict resolution and organizational change, we're not just talking about the pressing issue of political divisiveness—we're talking about the power to reshape our society by rethinking how we engage with one another and transform conflicts into constructive forces for societal progress.

Drawing from her extensive career, including her newest book, 'Remaking the Space Between Us,' Diana touches on compelling insights on how collaboration across groups can solve today's complex problems.

Tune in to explore practical steps individuals and communities can take to foster understanding and unity in a polarized world and learn about the importance of shifting from an outrage mindset to an engaged mindset.

Listen and Learn:

• How Diana’s journey from grassroots political activism and organizational learning led to groundbreaking insights on resolving lateral conflicts and preventing the rise of authoritarianism in a rapidly changing world
• How the media's focus on extremes distorts our perceptions and fuels division and what we can do to transform our fractured democracy
• The rise of solutions-focused journalism and how the shift from outrage to engagement can reshape the way we consume news and empower communities to tackle real-world problems
• The evolutionary history of in-group cooperation and out-group competition and how it has shaped today's divisive world
• The inspiring groups leading us towards a new evolutionary step in building a multi-group democracy—one that could finally bridge our divides and meet the challenges of the 21st century
• America's deep-rooted identity crisis, shaped by the historic tension between equality and liberty
• Actionable steps to bridge divides and foster meaningful connections across groups, overcome isolation, challenge biases, and collaboratively address societal issues
• Focusing on changing patterns rather than blaming individuals to transform adversaries into partners

Resources:

Diane’s books:

• Remaking the Space Between Us: How Citizens Work Together to Build a Better Future For All
• Action Science
• Elephant in the Room
• Divide or Conquer

Find Diana online:

• https://www.remakingthespace.org/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-smith-bb8b505/
• https://www.instagram.com/dianamclainsmith
• https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555850530104

Referenced in this episode:

• The Old Man Who Saved American Democracy. Twice by Jonathan V. Last: https://substack.com/@jvlast/p-147892467
• Solutions Journalism Network: https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/
• https://onestepinc.org/
• https://startswith.us/
• https://storycorps.org/
• https://braverangels.org/
• https://citizenconnect.us/

About Diana McLain Smith

Diana McLain Smith is a renowned thought leader who has led change efforts for thirty-five years in some of America’s most iconic businesses and cutting-edge non-profits. A former partner at the Monitor Group and a former chief executive partner at New Profit, Smith developed an approach to conflict and change called Leading Through Relationships (LTR)TM.

Related episodes:

• 262. Hope and Values in Dark Times with Us
• 51. The Psychology of Political Division with Yael and Debbie
• 281. Belonging Uncertainty and Bridging Divides with Geoffrey Cohen
• 234. The Power of Us with Dominic Packer
• 353. Ask Great Questions with Jeff Wetzler
• 96. Effective Conversations About Diversity with Anatasia Kim and Alicia del Prado
• 116. Building a Meaningful, Values-based Life with Jenna LeJeune

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