‘Self-knowledge is the first step to maturity’ ~ Jane Austen
How can governments and organizations reduce tribalism and factionalism and boost collaboration? It is a question that many organizations grapple with. In this blog we are going to explore how helping everyone develop a deeper self-awareness and self-understanding may address the root cause of the problem. But first, here is a story which illustrates the problem.

I visited the 9/11 memorial in New York recently and was moved by the beautiful water feature where the towers once stood and the wonderful museum with moving stories of bravery on the day. What also struck me was that many intelligence agencies had snippets of information that could have prevented the attacks, and if there was a spirit of collaboration they would have been working together for the common good, and the attacks could have been prevented. But each agency seemed to be in a competition for importance and influence and as a result intelligence sharing did not happen. https://blogs.humanwisdom.me/
This problem is also rife in organizations where one department is at odds with another, and colleagues in the same department are sometimes at war with each other. This contributes to low productivity, poor outcomes, and increased risk. It can also result in a loss of life. In the UK 10 million employees report workplace conflict. 900,00 workers took time off due to this (ACAS). In the US the cost of workplace conflict is estimated at $359 billion/year (CPP Inc., 2008). Companies with a poor corporate culture report a 48% turnover of staff, compared to 13% where there is a healthy one (Columbia University, 2012).
To address any problem, we need to explore the root cause, and in this case it lies in a deeper understanding of how the human mind is wired. There are four hidden drivers in our thinking that contribute to the problem.
Conditioning: We are all conditioned by our environment and past influences. We are not aware of this, and yet become attached to our conditioning. This becomes our ‘normal’ and shapes our opinions and beliefs. Anyone we meet who is different is ‘wrong’ and we either avoid them or try and convince them of our point of view. Conflict follows.
Identity: This is also an unconscious process. If I belong to ‘Department A’ that becomes my identity, and I am at odds with ‘Department B’. We compete for influence and resources in the organization. We are part of the same organization but there is a turf war going on, which does not serve the larger whole.
Self-interest: Our hidden self-interest operates in the background, shaping our thoughts and actions. In any meeting I am always looking out for myself and resist anyone else gaining in influence, even though they may not be interfering in our work in any way. Our self-interest stops us living with integrity and collaborating with each other for the common good.
Comparison: The unconscious process of comparison operates in the background in all of us. If others are better in some way it generates a feeling of envy and resistance, and we blame others for how we are feeling. We often act then to pull the other person down and conflict follows.
A deeper understanding of these hidden drivers in our thinking can help us put them to one side and collaborate with others for the common good. It can also reduce interpersonal conflict. Each person needs to go on a journey of learning about themselves and this awakens wisdom, which can be life-changing in many ways.
Organizations can help by training staff in self-awareness – for their own personal growth. A natural by-product of this is better collaboration and reduced conflict. To be effective this training cannot be done as a one off event because it is quickly forgotten. It also not effective imparted as pure information, though that is a good start. Regular group discussions combined with the use of the app and the built in online journal help users go on a journey of self-awareness, and it is this that brings transformation.
The HumanWisdom app makes this process of self-awareness easy, with more than 60 bite-sized modules and a growing library of content. This awareness is then applied practically to help boost relationship and communication skills, boost collaboration and reduce conflict, and help people meet challenges with much less stress and anxiety.
This wisdom can transform the culture of organizations and they can become happier places to work. This can boost retention, productivity, and litigation and result in better outcomes for all concerned. To find out more download the HumanWisdom app or visit humanwisdom.me and explore how it can help you live your best life.