Filling potholes, not picking fights - Why Civility is the new political strategy
The political rhetoric keeps getting more divisive and it's wearing people down. In a recent article for the New York Times, Professor Bill McKibben, author of Here Comes the Sun, examines the impact of the endless stream of negative news on society. He finds that it produces a kind of collective weariness, a default state of exhaustion in a population that was once more optimistic. Martin Seligman's research links our sense of optimism directly to our happiness, so a less optimistic society is almost by definition a less happy one. McKibben argues that humans simply weren't built to live like this. We're all carrying a growing anxiousness about the future and the divisiveness in our politics is a significant part of that load.
Our bodies, brains and nervous systems weren't designed to cope with this level of hostility. If we want a society that copes better with the problems it faces, we need a world calm enough to meet the needs of the human nervous system. McKibben also found that many people wanted their politicians to offer not just a promise of affordability, but a promise of serenity. Instead, what's happening is the opposite. Politicians in most parts of the world are leaning into fear and scaremongering, using division and threat to win attention and votes rather than offering the calm and stability people are actually asking for.
And it's not just society feeling the heat of this divisiveness, the politicians are feeling it too. A recent study on the mental health and wellbeing of Australian politicians by the Better Politics Foundation found that 66% of those interviewed said their role had harmed their mental wellbeing, pointing to adversarial culture and pile-ons directed at people who were already struggling.
So how do we make this better? We used to be able to lean on our politicians and institutions to provide hope in times of crisis, but trust in government is at an all-time low. McKibben points to one politician making a real difference. The New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who doesn't issue hourly tirades but instead posts videos of himself and his crew cheerfully filling potholes. His popularity has surged, and the mood of the city has improved with it. When the mood of the people improves, there is more civic engagement. McKibben's point is this - if we want people more engaged in politics and civic participation to actually increase, politicians need to create the conditions where civic participation is a part of life, not something that keeps people up at night.
People who feel calmer are simply better equipped to deal with what's in front of them. A regulated nervous system isn't just good for wellbeing, it's good for problem-solving. People who aren't operating from fear or exhaustion can think more clearly, listen more openly, and tolerate disagreement without treating it as a threat. They can hold nuance instead of retreating to extremes.
This matters for communities as much as individuals. Councils and governments that invest in the wellbeing of their people, staff, residents, elected officials alike aren't just being kind, they're building better decision-making capacity. People who feel supported are more willing to collaborate, are more resilient under pressure, and are able to work through conflict constructively rather than reactively. Calm isn't the absence of challenge, it's the condition that makes meeting challenge well actually possible.
If we want our governments, local or national to solve the problems in front of it, the starting point isn't a better policy paper. It's a population, and a political class, with the capacity to think clearly and disagree without dehumanising those who hold a different view. In my view, it starts with something deceptively simple, bringing civility back to every interaction and learning to disagree better.
Take the Next Step Toward a more Cooperative Council - Civility Training for Local Government
The ability to cooperate requires skill, patience and leadership. If you’re looking for tailored support, my coaching and training services can help. I offer:
Mediation services
Conflict management workshops tailored for Councils.
Conflict management coaching for Mayors and Deputy Mayors to navigate difficult conversations and foster collaboration.
Trauma Informed Practice.
By investing in professional development, you can create a team that works together to serve your community effectively.
💡 Learn more: https://www.lgconflictmanagement.com/
💡 Book a consultation: https://www.lgconflictmanagement.com/contact-us or email me at annemarie@lgconflictmanagement.com for more information.
For more insights on how to "Cut the Conflict in Council" listen to my podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6CKK3UyjJDLoXEuvPgRkyo?si=9a42d3d8168145de
Let’s work together to transform division into unity and build a legacy of collaborative leadership in your Council
