Peter Montoya

A recent study from Northwestern found that, for the first time on record, Americans’ contempt for the “other” party is now greater than their fondness for their own. For some, politics have become so intertwined with their identities that party affiliations have metamorphosed into fiercely protected “tribes.” What happens when that division seeps into the workplace? How do we keep politics from impacting productivity and eroding company culture? Drawing upon his years of leadership expertise and training, Peter offers real tools and actionable strategies to help heal political rifts in the workplace, alleviate antagonism, and build unified, cohesive teams.

For the first time in over 150 years, Americans fear other Americans more than anyone else. We despise one another more than at any time since the American Civil War, and our next war isn’t just on the horizon, it’s here. The weapons being wielded range from shaming and shunning to mocking, ridiculing, doxing, unfriending, empathy denial, intimidation, death threats, and more. We’ve come to believe that there is no common ground to be found, but the less entertaining—and less marketable—truth is: there really is more that unites us than divides us. Peter offers insight into the ancient instincts that cause us to form and so fiercely protect our perceived “teams,” as well as non-partisan advice and pragmatic steps anyone can take to dial-back behaviors that contribute to our nation’s dangerous polarization, and work toward healing the national divide.

Information has become cheap and abundant, and we’ve seen a sharp increase in misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories. Unfettered 24/7/365 access to news and social media has increased our consumption, and the more we consume, the worse we feel—about ourselves, our future, our fellow citizens, our country, and the world. Peter explains how highly accessible technology has placed individuals—everyday Americans—on both the front lines and within the command bunkers in the early stages of a second civil war, why our increased anger about political issues makes us vulnerable to fearmongering, and how changing our relationship with media and technology can have a positive impact, not only on our own lives but on those around us as well.