How can personas bridge divides in a polarized world?
How can personas bridge divides in a polarized world? Using imagined people to unlock real empathy, alignment, and progress 📦 Framing the Question In a polarized world, understanding how personas bridge divides can be the difference between unproductive conflict and meaningful collaboration. Instead of arguing about abstractions—“our users,” “voters,” “the other side”— personas turn tension into a shared focus on specific, humanized characters with real needs. Why this matters now When teams, communities, or leaders describe decisions through the lens of a persona (“What would Jordan need here?”), they shift from defending positions to solving problems. Used well, personas become less about marketing and more about mediation. The key is to balance their simplicity with a critical eye so they don’t erase diversity but instead stay “living,” research-informed tools that evolve as reality does. What exactly are personas—and why do they matter now? Personas are fictional...