Nonprofits Now: Leading Today Podcast hosted by Stacy Palmer with Tim Dixon

Tim Dixon, co-founder of More in Common, joins Chronicle CEO Stacy Palmer to offer researched-based strategies leaders can use to bridge divides in the workplace and in their communities.

Dixon founded the organization after the 2016 murder of his close friend, Jo Cox, a British politician who was slain for her opposition to Brexit. Today, More in Common helps political leaders and social-change movements in the United States and elsewhere devise strategies to strengthen their coalitions by including unlikely allies.

Bridging divides is top-of-mind for nonprofit leaders today. Nearly two-thirds of nonprofit executives say the nation’s divisions are making their jobs tougher, according to an exclusive Chronicle of Philanthropy survey.

We asked Dixon how to overcome the most difficult challenges. Among his key points:
Coalitions of unlikely partners are a key to success. Start at the local level, where people can rally behind ways to solve local problems and get over the hurdles of working with people who hold different views.
Leaders must manage divides within their organization — not ignore them. Bridging divides is an essential leadership skill. When fractures occur between a leader and her staff or among staff members or trustees, be sure to explain how decisions are made and hold small-group discussions that allow real exchanges among staff members, ideally in person.
Focus on shared values to build consensus. When you’re advocating on an issue, keep in mind that most people have strongly held values — but they often have more fluid views on issues. That means as long as you appeal to their values, you can sway opinion on policy.

Learn more about Dixon's organization, More in Common at: moreincommon.com

This podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts.

The podcast Nonprofits Now: Leading Today is hosted by Stacy Palmer, CEO of the Chronicle of Philanthropy. It is produced by the Chronicle's Emily Haynes and by Reasonable Volume's Mary Dooe, producer; Mark Bush, engineer; and Rachel Swaby and Elise Hu, executive producers. Additional support provided by the Chronicle's Margie Fleming Glennon, Andrew Simon, Nick Adams, Krista Niles, Kyle Johnson, and by Amaya Beltran of the design firm Salta With Us.

Explore more of our reporting and interviews on navigating society’s divides at: philanthropy.com/commons.

For the latest philanthropy news and analysis, subscribe to the Chronicle at" philanthropy.com/subscribe.