logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
22m 45s

237 Phil Wagner - Polarization

Raymond A. Mason School of Business
About this episode

Have you ever avoided interacting with a colleague because the two of you see the world very differently? You know the conversation will be frustrating, so you just go another way. That, in its most basic form, is an example of polarization. We tend to think of polarization in politics: two parties divided and at two distant extremes. But polarization takes place at work. Our guest says it not only affects behavior, but it harms innovation, collaboration, and success. Phil Wagner is a professor of Organizational Behavior at the William & Mary School of Business. He says while we live in divisive times - and research indicates it’s getting worse - leaders and professionals need to understand polarization, and takes steps to get people talking. 

Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Up next
Aug 21
247 Brad McMurran - Improv at Work
Improvisation. You probably know it as comedy and communication on the fly. It often consists of short scenes or sketches beginning with an idea from the audience. Many of your favorite comedians and entertainers have considerable improv training. As modern improv comedy grew, bu ... Show More
19m 42s
Aug 5
246 Eleanor Loiacono - Neurodiversity at Work
With each day, more companies and organizations are hiring people who think – and approach problems – differently. Neurodiversity refers to the variation in which human brains function. A range of conditions fall under the neurodiverse umbrella; from autism to Tourette Syndrome, ... Show More
19m 28s
Jul 21
245 Bill Rosenthal - Leadership & Creativity
Bill Rosenthal is not a typical leader, and Midnight Oil is not a typical creative agency. Rosenthal is President of Midnight Oil, an agency located in Los Angeles. Its clients include Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and other streaming services and studios. Rosenthal and his team design and ... Show More
19m 52s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2020
Donna Marie De Carolis - Dean, Close School of Entrepreneurship, Drexel University: Entrepreneurship, Mindset and Credibility
On this episode of Speaking to Influence, Donna Marie De Carolis shares why focuses on mindset vs. skills when communicating with her audience and how you can lower the risk of speaking with your own audiences. During this conversation Laura and Donna discuss how to communicate y ... Show More
27m 38s
Dec 2024
How to Master Office Politics Without Compromising Your Values
When you think of "office politics," you might picture someone hoarding information or taking credit for others' work. While negative stereotypes persist, learning to navigate office politics is crucial for leadership — and you can do it without sacrificing your principles or aut ... Show More
37m 25s
Jan 2025
Navigating workplace conflict: Why emotional intelligence is key
What’s really going on when we experience conflict at work? Can we ever get over a personality clash? Are there unavoidable tensions between different generations? And how can we navigate these tricky situations professionally without letting them derail our careers or impact our ... Show More
54m 16s
Oct 2024
How Tribalism Can Actually Strengthen Workplace Culture
We live in a world that seems more divisive and polarized than ever, and it’s common to describe this phenomenon as tribalism. But Michael Morris, professor at Columbia Business School, says that term is often misunderstood and that tribal instincts can in fact be very positive i ... Show More
28m 1s
Jul 2024
How to Embrace Ambiguity When Making Decisions
Making business decisions often means choosing one path over another—but that doesn’t always need to be the case. Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis argue that leaders should move beyond “either/or” choices and try to come up with solutions that embrace ambiguity and paradox. In this ... Show More
27m 30s
Jan 2021
How to Avoid Making Mistakes: A Disaster Expert Explains How to Prepare for Major Career Disruption - with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky (Ep 65)
“Our emotions, our intuitions, and our gut reactions will often lead us in the wrong direction,” said Dr. Gleb Tsipursky in my interview with him, recorded on Friday 27th of March 2020. Never have we ever in our lives, in this generation, at this point in time, wanted to know mor ... Show More
41m 52s
Nov 2024
MI376: Why Do Great Companies Fail? The Innovator’s Dilemma w/ Shawn O’Malley
In today’s episode, Shawn O’Malley (@shawn_OMalley_) discusses why great companies fail, as outlined by Clayton Christensen in his timeless book, The Innovator’s Dilemma, which was first published in 1997. The Economist actually named it one of the six most important business boo ... Show More
53m 4s
Oct 2024
Should Your Business Take a Stand on Societal Issues?
What’s the best way to determine whether or not your business should engage on potentially controversial societal issues? In this episode, Harvard Business School senior lecturer Hubert Joly explains how to create a process for decision-making around these issues, in collaboratio ... Show More
25m 17s
Jun 18
Becoming Better: Transformational Leadership with Ryan Gottfredson
In this episode of Talent Development Leader podcast, Ryan Gottfredson—bestselling author, professor, and expert in leadership development—describes what it truly means to become better. Drawing from his latest book, Becoming Better: The Groundbreaking Science of Personal Transfo ... Show More
43m 16s