Leading in an Age of Polarization

Join us for “Leading in an Age of Polarization” at the 2020 Canadian School of Peacebuilding with instructor David Brubaker. Courses are available for professional development, personal inspiration or academic credit. Polarization refers to the process by which more and more people in a society come to hold opinions at the more extreme ends of the spectrum, while the number of people in the moderate centre dwindles. The challenge for leaders of any system (congregations, businesses, schools, governments, other organizations) is how to lead when many members instinctively “take sides” based on group loyalties rather than careful processing. This course will present findings from the research on what causes polarization, along with strategies from leaders who have successfully led in polarized environments. Participants will be invited to share challenges in their unique contexts and will leave with a plan for effective leadership in their setting. This course is offered in partnership with Resolution Skills Centre (RSC) and Mediation Services and counts as 3 days of elective credit towards an RSC certificate. Find out more at csop.cmu.ca and apply before April 1, 2020.