In school, we are taught that there is one correct answer to a problem. For at the first 12 years of our childhood, our educational systems teach us to answer questions with True or False. Black or White! No gray areas, no “depends”, no circumstances that can lead us anywhere in between right and wrong. That is how we learned to deal with problems. All problems.
It’s no surprise then that we are absolutely divided as a society over every problem we face (political, social, scientific, religious, professional, technical - doesn’t matter!) We have an opinion about everything and believe that our opinions are factually correct solutions to these problems. Others accordingly, are either with us, or against us. No topic is too small or too big. There’s very little tolerance to the “It Depends” response!
In almost every training program, participants ask me about right and wrong. When I sometimes answer with “It Depends!” I can see the frustration on their faces. The following question usually is “What does best practice say?”. Here is where I go on about the situation and circumstances, and how in this scenario we might have several options, and in that case we have several more options. Participants then ponder “So you mean there’s no right and wrong here?”! And a little flicker of light shines through their eyes. Realization that there’s a gray area where if circumstances were different, what I thought was right can be wrong and vice versa! An AHA-moment.
With the increase penetration of Social Media, this polarization is growing every day and it’s causing a whole lot of social problems including online bullying (trolling, shaming,…etc.) and the sound of reason and middle ground is slowly disappearing. In work environments such polarization creates a divided team and lots of office politics forcing even new joiners to take sides. Our ability to solve problems as a team is challenged, because we are learning that to get support I have to bully and be loud. I have to make sure we only have two sides! This goes against all principles of team building and communication!
While there’s nothing I can personally do about Social Media, I can work on my own circle of influence as an HR professional. I would encourage you to do the same each in his/her own zone. Diversity is no longer just an issue of race, color, and religion. Diversity should also include the variety of opinions on an issue; finding common grounds; having empathy for others; knowing your own limitations that you might be wrong or less informed, and respecting others for having their own opinions even if they are less informed. Having these principles in mind while discussing issues would allow more room for problem solving.
I honestly believe that polarization is not helping us move forward. I think of opinions/solutions as I see human beings, a range of rainbow colors not ones and zeros. I hope you share my sentiment.