Hearing on Building a More Civil and Collaborative Culture in Congress

The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress ("Select Committee") will hold a hearing titled “Rethinking Congressional Culture: Lessons from the Fields of Organizational Psychology and Conflict Resolution,” on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

[hollymyers]

I am encouraged. My appreciation for the transformative work of Braver Angels drew me in and the quality of the interaction had me watch the whole thing. As "witness" Amanda Ripley stated, this hearing revealed lots of "low hanging fruit". Committee members have already begun to pick some of that fruit by virtue of their engaged participation. Especially helpful was the distinction between HIGH conflict - characterized by humiliation, contempt and disgust and GOOD conflict - in which anger and sadness is often expressed - coming from a place of fundamental decency. Rules of conduct exist- and cry out for enforcement. Learning to calmly label offensive behavior, e.g. : "Seems like you may be trying to humiliate me - is that what you are wanting?" - provides an opening for diffusing it. Yes, Adam Grant!

[rogerleeaustin]

some highlights
17:24 astronauts, uncommon commonalities
27:32 high conflict vs good conflict
1:05:47 football, scores
1:22:42 hockey, scores
1:34:00 pie
1:39:00 guardrails
1:43:04 swing and a miss
1:55:00 bread and fruit
25:16 if we can keep it

[cjwolfe]

Excellent meeting. As a leader of the No Labels volunteer committee I offer our services to help change the culture of Congress. I am also a member of the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations. Several of my colleagues in this Consortium are also practitioners and can build on the wonderful ideas shared by your panel. One of my colleagues has created a measure of emotional culture that can determine the current state of this Committee along with the overall Congress should you choose to work with us. Knowing the existing current state and desired future state provides a map of where we are starting from and where we hope to go in terms of culture. In the meeting several Representatives so what can we do to change the culture, I believe we can help answer this question. We are looking to do this as volunteers in service to our country.

[aaronsmithlsleesmith]

For your first job interview today I’m sure your new work will help your support and help you get your support for your first time in the next year or two weeks before we get to the state government support for you and then you can do a great work day and then we have been in the world and support for president your job

[aaronsmithlsleesmith]

Congress Aaron’smith congress leaders who are expected to be elected representatives from president Aaron’smith parliament candidate

[aaronsmithlsleesmith]

Congress manaaronsmith leaders of the congress president Aaron’smith senator and first governor of Ohio president Aaron’smith