

Over-reaction to difference is a 'fear' response
"What planet are they from?!" It's a question we often use dismissively. It's actually a really good question to ask ourselves more seriously, with more curiosity than judgement.
Our 'inner chimp' (limbic / personality / 'ego') finds difference threatening, and often deals with this by (defensive) avoidance or aggression. It makes assumptions or pre-judgements which can turn out to be self-fulfilling prophecies. That's because defensiveness triggers a matching threat response in the other person's 'inner chimp (limbic). So now neither of you is thinking 'smartly' or acting 'intentionally' and the outcome is normally sub-optimal.
The goal is to manage our inner chimp (ego) so we can respond (PFC) rather than react (limbic). Success comes from taking more time (maybe literally just a breath) to:
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use EQ to deal 'smartly' with individuality (recognise their personality / ego); AND
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connect with common humanity (let your SELF see their SELF)
To collaborate well you need to let go our natural preference for liking or being alike, and accept the reality that people in our world really do live on a different planet.