Making Civility Great Again

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Authors Kim Kerrigan and Steven Wells made an appearance this past weekend at the Manchester Public Library to discuss their latest book, “Making Civility Great Again.”  Yes, that’s the name of the book. Certainly, it’s a timely topic.  

But seriously, the pair definitely has the chops to take on the topic, having spent the last several decades consulting with corporations like Citrix and Disney on how to communicate effectively.  After all, said Kerrigan, effective communication isn’t just about getting along (although it involves that too), it’s also about being productive. During their presentation, Kerrigan and Wells highlighted some of the topics covered in their book such as communicating diplomatically, improving your communication skills, and responding effectively to varied ideas.

Some of their tenants of diplomacy?  Well, start from what you have in common, and work from there, said Wells.  Kerrigan and Wells also shared some psychology insights (anger almost always comes from fear, for example).  The bottom line? Two people can have radically different views, but armed with empathy, clarity and respect anyone can, well, “just get along.”

Kerrigan opened by saying the founding fathers of our country were able to produce our system of government, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights within a couple of decades.  That’s pretty heady, he said, considering that today’s divisiveness has paralyzed movement on most governmental issues for the last twenty years.

With Fall Town Meetings coming up (not to mention Thanksgiving and the winter holidays), a message of compromise and, of course, civility is not just timely.  It’s also pretty “great.” 

human behavior, etiquette, civility, steven wells, kim kerrigan, manchester public library