Sandy Lish’s Post

“The most important thing is to recognize the sensitivity of the day and how it might resonate with or impact all of your stakeholders.” Leaders everywhere are navigating whether – and how – to address the one-year anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on Israel. Gravity Research shows companies are pulling back from political and cultural issues, and colleges/universities are adopting stances of neutrality. The challenge? Striking the right balance in communications around sensitive topics. Our Principal/Co-founder Sandy Lish spoke with Eleanor Hawkins for this week's Axios newsletter to discuss the intentionality and planning that must occur within corporations and colleges, and at what point commenting is necessary. Whether you are in a lecture hall or a board room, Sandy reminds that “it’s critical to have policies, enforce the policies and communicate about what those policies are, so that there’s no surprises and there’s no having to figure things out on the fly.” Read more of Sandy’s insights in two articles from this week’s newsletter: 'Corporate America is staying silent on Oct. 7 anniversary' and 'Universities embrace "neutrality" ahead of Oct. 7' https://lnkd.in/eN9RhSwQ

What is the role of businesses in advancing racial justice? As we navigate complex, divisive times, it's clear from the latest Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report that despite a group of powerful people pushing back against #DEI, it's popular among most workers with approval rates on the rise. 🔍 Key Findings: -Accountability Matters: 74% of people believe businesses should be held accountable for their role in addressing racial injustice. -Action Over Words: Organizations that implement genuine and effective racial justice strategies see a 31% boost in trust from their stakeholders. -Leadership Commitment: Effective leadership on racial justice is a crucial factor in building long-term trust and loyalty. 🔗 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eKgHxGht As leaders and professionals, we have a responsibility to integrate social justice into our corporate strategies and daily practices. It's more than a statement, it's about sparking meaningful change. Actionable strategies that promote equity and inclusion build better workplaces and communities. #BusinessLeadership #RacialJustice #CorporateResponsibility #SocialJustice #EquityAndInclusion #TrustInBusiness #DiversityAndInclusion #FutureOfWork #DEI #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion

😡 😧 Watching the presidential debate and the ensuing “personality politics” I find myself feeling a wide variety of emotions – fear, rage, commitment, and a pervasive sense of helplessness. I want to help, but I don’t know how best to mobilize my efforts and make an impact at that scale (beyond voting! 💪 ). ⏰ I see our country about to careen off a cliff that I fear will take years, perhaps decades to recover from. I want to scream “wake up!” because what I see as a choice between democracy and authoritarianism seems to be played as personality politics (who is too old, who has the worse mental capacity). We’re debating the margins, not the real issue. 🗨 🗯 Perhaps that is behind my leaning into facilitation this summer. I find myself yearning for generative dialogue, for an authentic exchange of ideas, not this radicalized reality we are living on a national scale. What I can do is lean into framing conversations, meetings, decisions that matter to the people involved, that feel like progress. This wonderful quote fuels me this summer: “A more collective process where all voices are heard and a diversity of experience brought to bear on a problem produces a much richer form of democracy than the top-down version favored by modern government.” - Judy Rebick, Imagine Democracy ❣ That is what I can do to make the world more like the kind of place I believe we have the potential (and many of us have the desire) to create. I can start from that basic belief, and help the organizations we work with embrace that perspective. Social profit organizations are the strongest form of democracy I can think of, when they operate at their best. #Facilitation #Democracy #Process #Dialogue

The Role of Media Monopoly in Complacency Concentration of Media Ownership: Limited Perspectives: A small number of corporations control a significant portion of media outlets in the U.S., which can lead to a narrow range of perspectives being presented to the public. This concentration can result in a lack of critical discourse about economic inequality and its implications. For example, major news networks often prioritize stories that appeal to advertisers or affluent audiences, sidelining issues affecting lower-income populations. Framing of Issues: The way media frames economic issues can influence public perception. If media narratives focus on individual responsibility rather than systemic factors contributing to inequality, citizens may internalize beliefs that they are solely responsible for their economic circumstances. This framing can diminish collective outrage and activism.

🌍 Can We Depolarize America’s Political Mindset? Political gridlock is often called a "wicked problem," but what if we’re looking at it the wrong way? 🤔 What if polarization isn’t just a deadlock but an opportunity to reimagine how we think about politics itself? According to the Institute for Cultural Evolution’s groundbreaking report, the solution isn’t “meeting in the middle”—it’s creating a new synthesis of values. Here’s the big idea: 💡 Polarization isn’t a “good vs. bad” fight; it’s a “positive-positive” tension. Liberal and conservative values both hold truths that, when integrated, can spark innovation and solutions to today’s biggest challenges. 🚀 Instead of patching the old system with “centrism,” this vision proposes a New Left and New Right—positions that respect foundational values while evolving them: 🌱 Environmental care + economic innovation 📉 Smaller government + sustainable social policies 🌍 National security + global cooperation What’s the takeaway? America’s political health improves not by erasing differences but by fostering cultural evolution—expanding our capacity to value both individual freedoms and community needs. 📢 How do we get there? 1️⃣ Recognize the value of your political "opponent’s" perspective. 2️⃣ Advocate for integrative solutions that balance both sides. 3️⃣ Encourage cultural growth—because change starts with us. Your turn: 🗣️ What’s one issue—climate, healthcare, or economy—where you think this “synthesis” approach could succeed? Let’s share ideas and spark solutions. For full article: https://lnkd.in/gh8tGVvi #Depolarization #Leadership #CulturalEvolution #Politics #Collaboration

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 “The old left-right divide has become obsolete. Instead, the new divide is between the international technocratic elite in alliance with national elites against the interests, values, and policy preferences of national populations. This came to a head during the pandemic years that pitted the laptop Zoom class against the working class, enriching the former and immiserating the latter. The fear porn used to impose Covid-era restrictions broke the citizen-state social compact and peoples’ trust in almost all public institutions.” “‘We the people’ are fighting back. ‘Populist’ is commonly used by commentators pejoratively. Yet the word comes from the notion of the popular will to describe policies that are popular with large numbers of voters who have come to believe that their concerns are derided and disregarded by the established policy, cultural, corporate, intellectual, and media elites.” “Hence the revolt of the masses against the homogeneous political establishment and against the scolds and sneers who are their cheerleaders in the commentariat. Their lack of humility is matched by a surfeit of arrogance. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 '𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀' 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.” ~ Ramesh Thakur Ramesh Thakur, a Brownstone Institute Senior Scholar, is a former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, and emeritus professor in the Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.

Tired of political acrimony and looking for ideas to inspire civil discourse? Join Business for America and Disagree Better on Thursday, April 25th at noon ET for a conversation with Utah Governor Spencer Cox about how businesses and other convenors can help bridge partisan divides. The National Governors Association has established the Disagree Better initiative to foster healthy discourse between opposing viewpoints and reduce partisan animosity. The discussion will also feature insights from organizations sharing efforts and strategies to cultivate common ground.   🔹 Register for next week’s event here: https://lnkd.in/g_rrkhVm     🔹 The Disagree Better initiative examines polarization, elevates effective solutions for problem-solving, and features Governors showing what “disagreeing better” looks like. Through platforms such as civil public debates, service projects, and other strategies, we can begin to visualize a constructive approach to working through our nation's divides. Learn more about the Disagree Better initiative here: https://lnkd.in/eks28Tgi      🔹 Business for America is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that engages businesses across the country to improve our country’s civic health by increasing civic participation, restoring trust in our elections and democratic institutions, reducing polarization, and setting a positive example for business engagement in the political sector. Learn more about Business for America here: https://www.bfa.us/   #Elections2024 #TrustedInfo2024 #DisagreeBetter  

The Role of Media in Creating Complacency and False Consciousness Concentration of Ownership: A small number of corporations control a significant portion of media outlets in the U.S., which can lead to a narrow range of perspectives being presented. This concentration allows these corporations to shape narratives that align with their interests, often sidelining issues like economic inequality. For example, major news networks may prioritize stories that appeal to affluent audiences or advertisers, leading to a lack of coverage on issues affecting lower-income populations. Framing and Representation:Partial Truths: Media often presents information in ways that reinforce the status quo. When economic issues are framed as individual failures rather than systemic problems, it can lead to a sense of complacency among the public. For instance, when news coverage emphasizes personal responsibility for financial struggles without addressing structural barriers, it can foster a belief that individuals are solely to blame for their circumstances.

"𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴." —𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻. The concept of democracy often gets reduced to a battleground of political ideologies, governance, and the voting booth. Yet, democracy is way so much more than that. It's a set of values that permeates every aspect of our lives. 📌 Democracy is about inclusion, participation, and the belief that every voice matters. 📌 It's about technology, where access to information and tools is no longer the privilege of a few but the right of many. 📌 It's about workplaces evolving into more co-built environments, where every team member has a stake in the outcome. 📌 It's about knowledge, too, as barriers to education are dismantled and learning is shared openly across the globe. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆, 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁. It requires constant vigilance, safe-guarding, and the courage to confront its shortcomings. Democracy is fragile, and lack of empathy, inequity, and the negligence of collective well-being is its kryptonite. 𝗬𝗲𝘁, 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀, 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲. Deep democratic ideals have brought humankind this far—a blueprint that paved the way for us to respect human dignity, encourage diversity of thought, and nurture our collective potential. A roadmap that recognizes our shared humanity and the interconnectedness of our lives. We want to protect an imperfect democracy. Democracy is human, like all of us. Happy Friday, LinkedIn! 💙 PS: Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States of America, led the nation during World War I. Image Source: Hulton Archive/Getty Images. #democracyisahumanright

“Democracy, put simply, means people successfully speaking and listening to each other. A society of democratic individuals grows out of interpersonal relations between them. It is from this basic foundation of communication in a pre-political space that democracy springs.” Dr. Harald Weilnböck, university professor and group psychotherapist, underlines in this quote what democracy means from communication and cultural perspectives. Most of us, though, learned about democracy in civics class where we were taught that democracy is voting, politics, and governmental structures. Most of us did not learn about democracy in terms of our relations with each other. But electoral processes and democratic systems do not grow on their own, nor are they self-sustaining. Growing democratic structures requires cultures in which humans - who are democratically oriented in relation with one another - create the social enabling conditions for those systems and processes to function properly. We can all see the damage when non-democratic humans manipulate democratic processes and systems. Until I spent 7 years outside academia and on the ground doing ethnographic fieldwork, the human relational basis of democracy was invisible to me. Like most, I was distracted by the spectacle of politics. However, on November 8, 2016, my world flipped upside down two weeks after taking possession of my new property in deep red, rural Southern Oregon. After that election, I first experienced - then could see and understand - how our relations with one another create the social soil that either grows democratic cultures or undermines those while creating the conditions for authoritarian leaders, enablers, and regimes. The human basis of democracy is relational. Without the noise of politics to distract us, we can see that democracy lives in our practices, in what we do and say. It's a relational orientation. Once your perspective flips to the relational, it will be impossible for you to unsee the potential each of us has to create democratic cultures that support broader democratic processes and structures. In this series of weekly posts, I’ll share some of what I learned about democracy from the fieldwork. In particular, I’ll devote a post each to describing briefly what I learned about power, relations, and culture as they relate to democracy and authoritarianism. Ultimately, I’ll offer several take-aways that can help you become a more democratic human who helps create democratic cultures in your workplaces and families, and in academic and community spaces. I’ll leave you with a thought from John Durham Peters’ book _Speaking into the Air: A History of the Idea of Communication_: "A true democracy would have to include a much wider range of creatures than humans, for humans themselves are many creatures. Full democracy would be transspecies, transgender, transrace, transregion, transclass, transage, transhuman: what Emerson called 'the democracy of chemistry.'"