March 13, 2025

Justin Jones-Fosu: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World

1 hour 5 minutes

Episode recap:

Marcel and Justin Jones-Fosu discussed the importance of having difficult conversations in a divided world. Justin, the CEO of Work.Meaningful., shared his personal story of growing up in a challenging environment and how his mother's philosophy of experiencing the beauty of difference shaped his perspective. He emphasized the importance of pursuing other people's humanity even when disagreeing with their ideologies. Justin also shared that his book, "I Respectfully Disagree," was inspired by his sessions on creating inclusive cultures and how to passionately pursue someone's humanity while disagreeing with their ideology. The book aims to provide practical and research-based strategies for everyday people to navigate difficult conversations.

Bio:

Justin Jones-Fosu is a full-time daddy who also happens to be an international speaker, a social entrepreneur, a critically-acclaimed author, and mountain climber (he recently conquered one of the famed 7 Summits). His passion for elevation extends beyond trekking; it’s mirrored in his work as the CEO of Work. Meaningful. and in his writing. His book, I Respectfully Disagree (releasing April 2024), challenges the reader to focus on building bridges to people rather than barriers from them.

Quotes:

"We can vehemently disagree with someone's ideology and yet still passionately pursue their humanity."

"Curiosity fills in the gaps with curiosity, not conclusions. Conclusions killed the cat; it wasn't curiosity."

"You have no idea, whether in the workplace or at home, what's on the other side of respectful disagreement, even if it's simply just planting seeds of respect."

Takeaways:

Challenge yourself to a "birthday challenge" where you intentionally learn or try something completely new each year - pushing yourself out of comfort zones and maintaining a growth mindset that keeps you humble and curious about the world.

Practice the "power of three" in conversations by asking follow-up questions that go at least three levels deep, genuinely listening to understand someone's perspective rather than waiting to respond or prove your point.

Commit to one meaningful connection per week outside your typical social circle - seek out a conversation with someone from a different department, background, or perspective, specifically to hear their story without an agenda of changing their mind.

Timestamps:

[00:03] Introduction

[03:15] The Childhood Lessons That Shaped Justin’s Approach to Respect

[06:23] Why Justin Wrote ‘I Respectfully Disagree’ (And What It’s Really About)

[08:58] Why Social Media Is Making Conversations Worse

[12:18] The 4 Ways People Handle Conflict—Which One Are You?

[15:16] How Avoiding Conflict Is Hurting the Next Generation

[16:27] The 5 Rules for Disagreeing Without Losing Respect

[24:58] Understanding Perspective Through Curiosity

[33:35] Proximity Breeds Empathy

[40:35] Finding Common Ground in the Toughest Conversations

[51:05] How Respectful Disagreement Changed Justin’s Life and Career

[52:40] One Simple Challenge to Become a Better Listener

Conclusion:

Real communication isn’t about proving a point—it’s about truly hearing and understanding others. Approaching conversations with curiosity and empathy allows for deeper connections, even in moments of disagreement. Finding common ground doesn’t mean abandoning personal beliefs, but rather recognizing the value in different perspectives. When people listen with openness instead of defensiveness, discussions become more thoughtful and productive. Respecting others, even in difficult conversations, strengthens both relationships and ideas.

Links/Resources:

Website: https://workmea

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By Marcel Schwantes

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