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D20 // The Single Skill That Will Save Our World
Marcus Huels
June 29, 2024
Concensus building will be, by far, the most important skill that anyone can learn over the next 5 years.
If you have been part of any political debate or have watched any type of political news during the past 10 years, then you might have a sense of how polarized public discourse around the world have become.
From France to Mexico, from the U.S. to India, democratic societies of all shapes and sizes are seeing increased extremisim of political views and a visible degredation of even the most adept public leaders to build lasting consensus.
Online discussions have only exacerbated the vitrol. As Maria Engels aptly describes the opening of her 2019 TEDx Talk, online forums allow us to just disconnect with people who we disagree with. She wisely explains that as a result, we walk away less resilient and less able to work through future conflict.
The skills of nonviolent communication, empathic listening, and a perspective on consensus building are osmotic skills: they have the power to transfer and empower our interactions with others.
By growing our own capacities, we are in turn empowering others in our community and the next generation to grow as a result.
If you are interested in consensus building and nonviolent communications, some important resources to follow are:
Books
Difficult Conversations, Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen
Nonviolent Communication, Marshall B. Rosenberg PhD