The pattern repeats in demonstrations and political debates:

• The other side is clueless

• Everything the other side does , does not make sense

• We are right, they are wrong (always)

• Etc.

You will never convince people who are deeply attached to their beliefs. The people who can swing the majority are in the center. Questioning the intelligence and making fun of the people just across the line of the center (and their friends) is not going to make it easier for them to switch.

Preaching to the converted with a megaphone won’t help. Listening to, understanding, and engaging with the doubters possibly could.

This is true for political debates, but also for sales and investor pitches.

Photo by Chris Slupski on Unsplash