According to Courageous Dialogues: Moving Beyond Polarization project, “Polarization is a complex social dynamic that occurs when an issue that involves many different people, concerns and opinions is reduced to two opposing sides— ‘for or against’ or ‘us vs them.’ It goes well beyond ordinary disagreement. In fact, it can lead us to avoid debate or consideration of others’ ideas completely. When we believe that we alone hold the truth, we may see differences of opinion, values and beliefs as threatening and intolerable. These dynamics disrupt effective patterns of home and workplace communication. Instead of working with difference and making conflict constructive, we allow polarization to create painful divisions that are hard to overcome.” We encourage you to learn more about strategies to overcoming polarization in the workplace.
The Association of Administrative and Professional Staff (AAPS) is hosting two professional development sessions on Polarity Management, entitled “Generational Differences to Creating a Culture of Belonging.” One session is for AAPS Managers and will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024, from 10 am to 12 pm. The other session is for AAPS Professionals and will take place on Friday, March 1, 2024, from 10 am to 12 pm. You can also register to receive the recording. Those sessions are only open to AAPS staff members.