Like many, my circle of friends has contracted over the last five years due to political differences. Often, we must work and collaborate with people with vastly different views, ideologies, and personalities whether we want to or not. Frequently, these efforts degrade into poorly coordinated situations where one person does all the work and the other complains about being left out.
“Bridge the Gap” is a book by Jennifer Edwards and Katie McCleary that teaches us how to use what we know about how the brain works to create better collaborations, retain relationships, and make progress across diverse groups.
The book focuses mostly on your behavior because that is something you can change to make you a better collaborator, negotiator and even a better family member. It helps you focus on what you are feeling to know when you need to take a breath, listen more, and then strive for a more collaborative and less alienating result.