Breaking Through Gridlock: The Power of Conversation in a Polarized World

“A field manual for change agents on how to build bridges across differences and move from talk to action.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times-bestselling author
 
Think about the last time you tried to talk with someone who didn’t already agree with you about issues that matter most. How well did it go?
 
These conversations are vital, but too often get stuck. They become contentious or we avoid them because we fear they might. What if, in these difficult conversations, we could stay true to ourselves while enriching relationships and creating powerful pathways forward? What if our divergent values provided healthy fuel for dialogue and innovation instead of gridlock and polarization? 
 
Jason Jay and Gabriel Grant invite us into a spirit of serious play, laughing at ourselves while moving from self-reflection to action. Using enlightening exercises and rich examples, Breaking Through Gridlock helps us become aware of the role we unwittingly play in getting conversations stuck. It empowers us to share what really matters—with anyone, anywhere—so that together we can create positive change in our families, organizations, communities, and society.
 
“Our country’s future depends on our ability to reach beyond our echo chambers. Jay and Grant guide us through starting the conversations so crucial to our democracy.” —Van Jones, New York Times-bestselling author of The Green Collar Economy
 
“We need the creativity that can be harnessed from competing perspectives to craft a thriving organization and a thriving society. This book gives people the tools to take that on.” —John Mackey, CEO, Whole Foods Market

Jason J. Jay is a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the director of the Sustainability Initiative at MIT Sloan.

Gabriel Grant is the CEO of Human Partners and cofounder of the Byron Fellowship Educational Foundation.