Our Search for Belonging : How Our Need to Connect Is Tearing Us Apart

Foreword by Johnnetta B. Cole We are living in a time of mounting political segregation that threatens to tear us apart as a unified society. The result is that we are becoming increasingly tribal, and the narratives of life that we get exposed to on a daily basis have become echo chambers in which we hear our beliefs reinforced and others' beliefs demonized. At the core of tribalism exists a paradox: as humans, we are hardwired with the need to belong, which ends up making us deeply connected with some yet deeply divided from others. When these tribes are formed out of fear of the "other," on topics such as race, immigration status, religion, or partisan politics, we resort to an "us versus them" attitude. Especially in the digital age, when we are all interconnected in one way or another, these tensions seep into our daily lives and we become secluded with our self-identified tribes. Global diversity and inclusion expert Howard J. Ross, with JonRobert Tartaglione, explores how our human need to belong is the driving force behind the increasing division of our world. Drawing upon decades of leadership experience, Ross probes the depth of tribalism, examines the role of social media in exacerbating it, and offers tactics for how to combat it. Filled with tested practices for opening safe and honest dialogue in the workplace and challenges to confront our own tendencies to bond with those who are like us, Our Search for Belonging is a powerful statement of hope in a disquieting time. Our Search For Belonging How Our Need To Connect Is Tearing Us Apart We Are Living In A Time Of Mounting Political Segregation That Threatens To Tear Us Apart As A Unified Society. The Result Is That We Are Becoming Increasingly Tribal, And The Narratives Of Life That We Get Exposed To On A Daily Basis Have Become Echo Chambers In Which We Hear Our Beliefs Reinforced And Others' Beliefs Demonized. Global Diversity And Inclusion Expert Howard J. Ross, With Coauthor Jonrobert Tartaglione, Explores How Our Human Need To Belong Is The Driving Force For Why We Are Living In A World So Extremely Divided. At The Core Of Tribalism Exists A Paradox: As Humans, We Are Hardwired With The Need To Belong, Which Ends Up Making Us Deeply Connected With Some Yet Deeply Divided From Others. When These Tribes Are Formed Out Of Fear Of The “other,” On Topics Such As Race, Immigration Status, Religion, Or Partisan Politics, We Resort To An “us Versus Them” Attitude. Especially In The Digital Age, When We Are All Interconnected In One Way Or Another, These Tensions Seep Into Our Daily Lives And We Become Secluded With Our Self-identified Tribes. This Has Consequences Even In Our Most Personal Relationships In Our Families And Communities—just Think About Thanksgiving Dinner Conversations Across The United States After The 2016 Election. Drawing On His Decades Of Leadership Experience, Ross Probes The Depth Of Tribalism, The Role Of Social Media In Exacerbating It, And How To Combat It. Ross And Tartaglione Highlight How To Maximize Our Impact In The Workplace, Noting That It Is One Of The Few Places Where We Are Forced To Work With People Different From Ourselves. The Goal Of The Book Is To Help People Understand These Dynamics And To Develop Ways To Bridge The Divide So That We Can Move Toward An Ever More Harmonious Future.

Gold Nautilus Award Winner: "A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the mess we are in today and what we need to do." —George Halvorson, former CEO, Kaiser Permanente We are living in a time of mounting political segregation that threatens to tear us apart as a unified society. As we become increasingly tribal, the narratives of life that we get exposed to on a daily basis have become echo chambers in which we hear our beliefs reinforced and others' beliefs demonized. At the core of tribalism exists a paradox: As humans, we are hardwired with the need to belong, which ends up making us deeply connected with some yet deeply divided from others. When these tribes are formed out of fear of the "other, " on topics such as race, immigration status, religion, or partisan politics, we resort to an "us versus them" attitude. Especially in the digital age, when we are all interconnected in one way or another, these tensions seep into our daily lives and we become secluded with our self-identified tribes. In this book, global diversity and inclusion expert Howard J. Ross, with JonRobert Tartaglione, explores how our human need to belong is the driving force behind the increasing division of our world. Drawing upon decades of leadership experience, Ross probes the depth of tribalism, examines the role of social media in exacerbating it, and offers tactics for how to combat it. Filled with tested practices for opening safe and honest dialogue in the workplace and challenges to confront our own tendencies to bond automatically with those who are like us—or seem to be— Our Search for Belonging is a powerful statement of hope in a disquieting time.

We are living in a time of mounting political segregation that threatens to tear us apart as a unified society. The result is that we are becoming increasingly tribal, and the narratives of life that we get exposed to on a daily basis have become echo chambers in which we hear our beliefs reinforced and others' beliefs demonized. At the core of tribalism exists a paradox: as humans, we are hardwired with the need to belong, which ends up making us deeply connected with some yet deeply divided from others. When these tribes are formed out of fear of the "other," on topics such as race, immigration status, religion, or partisan politics, we resort to an "us versus them" attitude. Especially in the digital age, when we are all interconnected in one way or another, these tensions seep into our daily lives and we become secluded with our self-identified tribes. Global diversity and inclusion expert Howard J. Ross, with JonRobert Tartaglione, explores how our human need to belong is the driving force behind the increasing division of our world. Drawing upon decades of leadership experience, Ross probes the depth of tribalism, examines the role of social media in exacerbating it, and offers tactics for how to combat it. Filled with tested practices for opening safe and honest dialogue in the workplace and challenges to confront our own tendencies to bond with those who are like us, Our Search for Belonging is a powerful statement of hope in a disquieting time. --publisher's website Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Foreword by Johnnetta Betsch Cole, PhD -- Preface -- Introduction: A Tale of Two Countries -- 1 Wired for Belonging: The Innate Desire to Belong -- 2 The Politics of Being Right -- 3 Why Do We See the World the Way We Do? -- 4 Power, Privilege, Race, and Belonging -- 5 The Social Brain -- 6 Divinity, Division, and Belonging -- 7 When Worlds Collide -- 8 The Media Is the Message -- 9 Bridges to Bonding : Eight Pathways for Building Belonging -- 10 Institutions Can Build Bridges to Belonging -- 11 "Belonging Creates and Undoes Us Both "--Notes -- Acknowledgments -- Index -- About the Author -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- W -- Z Wired For Belonging : The Innate Desire To Belong -- The Politics Of Being Right -- Why Do We See The World The Way We Do? -- Power, Privilege, Race And Belonging -- The Social Brain -- Divinity, Division And Belonging -- When Worlds Collide -- The Media Is The Message -- Bridges To Bonding : Eight Pathways For Building Belonging -- Institutions Can Build Bridges To Belonging -- Belonging Creates And Undoes Us Both. Howard J. Ross With Jonrobert Tartaglione. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book explores how our human need to belong is the driving force behind the increasing division of our world. It probes the depth of tribalism, examines the role of social media in exacerbating it, and offers tactics for how to combat it. The author offers tested practices for opening safe and honest dialogue in the workplace and challenges to confront our own tendencies to bond with those who are like us Drawing upon decades of leadership experience, this timely and powerful book probes the depth of tribalism, examines the role of social media in exacerbating it, and offers tactics for how to combat it. -- Edited summary from book