ABSTRACT
Energy can be misspent dealing with people who may never agree with your cause or approach. Chapter Six, “Dealing with people who disagree”, focuses on determining when to engage and when to walk away. The chapter argues that listening is an important skill for breaking out of our echo chambers and identifying our own biases. Research and literature, in combination with practical strategies for appropriate and effective engagement, offer readers support to confidently deal with challenging interpersonal interactions. The chapter includes examples of how activists remove themselves from inflammatory situations, use listening skills to form personal connections, and effectively challenge others on their views when appropriate. It concludes by highlighting effective interpersonal communication strategies that can help change the attitudes and behaviours of people within our trusted social circles.
