Lead The Conversation for Change: Polarity Thinking Workshop

“This training was the best I’ve seen in my years attending this event. Excellent.”

– Kris Abrams, Global Greengrants, Executive Director

“Polarity Thinking” is the ability to see and tap the power of interdependent and opposing ideas, to understand your opponent’s point of view, find commonalities and ultimately work together to create a common good.

“A fundamental question to ask when encountering a difficulty is ‘Is this a problem we can ‘solve’, or is it an ongoing polarity we must manage well?'”

Barry Johnson, Polarity Management Associates

Lead the conversation for change with our Polarity Thinking (also known as ‘Deep Balance’) workshop that will give you the tools you need to transform adversaries into allies and move from conflict to creative cooperation.

Our workshop combines three unique elements to help you become a powerful and persuasive messenger who achieves positive policy outcomes faster:

  • oppositional analysis skills based on the work of experts like George Lakoff;
  • tried-and-true polarity thinking conflict resolution strategies from renowned business innovator Barry Johnson;
  • and the DISC personality profile which reveals your own communication blind spots and how to work around them.

This workshop gives advocates practical tools to overcome communication barriers and bridge policy debate.

[An adapted version of the workshop is also available for public interest journalists seeking to expand the reach of their critical reporting.]

During our one-day workshop and year-long mentorship, you will:

  • Identify polarities that underlie entrenched problems
  • Discover how blind spots can sabotage communications
  • Find authentic common ground with opponents
  • Create messages that appeal to broader audiences
  • Mobilize diverse opinions – decision makers, the public, journalists, even your board members-and keep your cause moving forward.

MPI’s one-of-a-kind, full-day strategic communications training was developed by Lark Corbeil of Public News Service, Patty Beach of LeadershipSmarts.com and True North Programs and Eric Haas of Cognitive Strategies and the Rockridge Institute.

Learn more about the trainers here