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Rising polarization is straining communities and making dialogue more difficult.

Small shared successes help build trust and keep people engaged over time.

Common goals can unite people across differences without requiring agreement.

This month, NBC News reported that 41% of American local officials surveyed said polarization was having “substantial negative effects” on their communities—roughly ten percentage points higher than in three previous surveys. Local officials described angry calls over fuel prices, bitter school board disputes over books, and, in one case, even threats against a council member seeking funds for emergency and homeless services.

We all know that political suspicion can consume the work of governing. Yet it also undermines the basic fabric of belonging--our confidence that we can be heard, that we can contribute, and ultimately count on one another.

In the face of extreme polarization, there’s a prescription we often hear: listen. Seek to understand other perspectives and look for common ground. While all of this is essential, there's a deeper level to consider.

When people struggle to trust one another’s intentions, even an invitation to dialogue can feel futile or suspect.

Psychology research points to a less-recognized but crucial way forward. Evidence shows that cooperating on even extremely simple shared tasks can improve how people treat one another, including when broader attitudes remain largely unchanged.

Crucially, we can begin improving a relationship before we’ve resolved how we feel about........

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