How to Bridge Our Divisions? Start by Asking Questions. | Abigail Spanberger | TEDxMidAtlantic

Summary

The speaker shares her journey from a curious child asking endless questions to becoming a CIA officer, where asking questions and building relationships were essential. She explains how curiosity and trust helped her bridge gaps, even in high-stakes espionage situations. Later, she transitioned to Congress, where she applied the same principles: asking critical questions and forming connections to tackle societal challenges. Her message emphasizes the importance of understanding communities, seeking common ground, and working across divides to address real issues and build a stronger, more unified future.

Takeaways

• 😀 Curiosity is a powerful force that drives discovery and learning. From a young age, asking questions was a way to understand the world and build relationships.
• 😀 Building relationships is essential for understanding context and meaning, whether in personal interactions or professional work like intelligence gathering.
• 😀 Asking questions is at the core of problem-solving. In the speaker's career, asking the right questions was vital for addressing gaps and making informed decisions.
• 😀 The speaker’s career shift from the CIA to Congress demonstrates the importance of asking questions to solve real-world problems and address the needs of the community.
• 😀 Relationships are key to effective leadership. You can’t solve complex issues without building trust and understanding through communication and personal connections.
• 😀 A real CIA officer's job involves asking critical questions about national security, much like how politicians should be asking about their constituents' needs.
• 😀 The speaker’s time in the CIA taught them the value of understanding ‘holes’ or gaps in knowledge, which is crucial for decision-making and strategic action.
• 😀 Running for Congress was seen as a challenge that required new methods of relationship-building, similar to intelligence work, in order to bridge divides and make progress.
• 😀 Effective problem-solving in politics and governance requires a blend of data-driven decisions and empathy through personal connections.
• 😀 A divided political environment needs leaders who can ask the right questions, build relationships, and work together across ideological divides for the common good.
• 😀 The importance of community engagement is clear: leaders must meet people where they are, listen to their concerns, and understand the issues impacting their lives.

Q & A

What drove the speaker's curiosity as a child?

The speaker was driven by a deep curiosity from a young age, constantly asking questions and wanting to understand everything around them. This curiosity led them to engage in activities like writing in code and spying on their sisters.

How did the speaker's childhood experiences influence their career choice?

The speaker's childhood curiosity and interest in solving puzzles directly influenced their decision to pursue a career in the CIA. They always knew they wanted to be a CIA officer and were fascinated by the idea of gathering information and understanding complex situations.

What was the significance of the speaker’s relationship with Dusty and his grandmother, Yolanda?

The relationship with Dusty and his grandmother Yolanda taught the speaker the importance of context in understanding conversations. Even though the speaker didn’t understand all the words Yolanda spoke, they learned to interpret meaning through facial expressions and non-verbal cues, which later helped in their CIA work.

How did the speaker build trust with the foreign national providing valuable information?

The speaker built trust with the foreign national by connecting over a shared interest in the TV show 'Covert Affairs.' This commonality formed the foundation for their relationship, enabling the speaker to ask important questions and gather critical intelligence.

What motivated the speaker to run for Congress?

The speaker was motivated to run for Congress because they saw a lack of people asking critical questions and building relationships in Washington. They wanted to bring their experience of asking questions and engaging with communities to address real issues and improve the political landscape.

What was the speaker's approach to connecting with constituents during their campaign?

During the campaign, the speaker focused on connecting with constituents by meeting them in their communities, whether in barns, dojos, or living rooms. They engaged in meaningful conversations, asking questions about their concerns, hopes, and opportunities, to truly understand their needs.

What did the speaker learn about Congress after being elected?

After being elected, the speaker learned that Congress is a chaotic but vibrant place, full of people from diverse backgrounds with an urgency to address issues. They realized the importance of asking questions and building relationships across party lines to move the country forward.

How did the speaker plan to bridge divides in Congress?

The speaker planned to bridge divides in Congress by engaging with both Democrats and Republicans, finding common ground on issues like broadband infrastructure and prescription drugs. By asking questions and building relationships, they hoped to address gaps and foster cooperation.

What is the speaker’s perspective on working with like-minded people?

The speaker challenges the idea of only working with like-minded people, stating that true problem-solving requires engaging with diverse perspectives. They believe that by working with others who have different viewpoints, gaps can be identified and closed, leading to more effective solutions.

What is the key message the speaker wants to convey at the end of their speech?

The key message is that in order to strengthen communities and solve problems, people must ask questions and build relationships. The speaker encourages the audience to reflect on the gaps in their communities and think about how they can contribute to closing those gaps by understanding and working with others.