Lately, people have been divided. No big news there. And while I don’t think disagreement is a problem in itself, it does become problematic—in society, in organizations, even among friends and family. The issue lies in our need to be right. We seek belonging—to a group, a team, a culture. It’s human nature, and we can’t change that.

When our sports team wins, we win. When the sports team loses, they lose.

I’m from Quebec, but when someone from Canada wins at the Olympics… I’m Canadian.

When there’s drama between two public figures, you have to choose: Team A or Team B.

“My silo is doing fine—it’s the other silos that messed up.”

We create these divisions ourselves. We make them to feel we belong. We make them so we can feel we’re on the winning side.

What if we stop trying to win?

I stopped trying to be right a long time ago. Or at least, I try not to try to be right.

Arguing is, most of the time, emotional.

And there’s this thing called the Backfire Effect—when you present someone with evidence that contradicts their beliefs, it usually doesn’t change their mind. In fact, it can make them cling to their original beliefs even more strongly…

Because, well—there’s that whole “winning side” thing.

You don’t have to make a choice… all the time

It’s okay to enjoy your favorite sport, even if your team doesn’t win.

It’s okay to cheer for another country at the Olympics.

You don’t need to take sides when there’s drama.

Help other silos instead of blaming them.

Break down the divisions that create winners and losers.

Seek understanding instead of arguments.

Slow down instead of rushing ahead.

Speak softly instead of raising your voice.

Think about the best outcome for everyone.

Be “aggressively” neutral.

To become better—as individuals, groups, teams, or cultures—we must actively strive to remain neutral and aim for common ground.