How to Turn Disagreement Into a Team Strength - Ambition & Balance

It is essential for success. It’s the hallmark of an engaged and involved team member. And it opens the way for testing and improving new ideas.

It should also be treated as a chance to built trust and show mutual understanding.

Mastering the art of considerate disagreement means expressing your beliefs without shutting down the discussion or angering the other side.

For this to happen, you have to listen more, be willing to change your perspective on disagreement and learn to better your arguments.

“You are not your idea, and if you identify too closely with your ideas, you will take offense when they are challenged.”

“I never allow myself to have an opinion on anything that I don’t know the other side’s argument better than they do.”

Take the time to gather facts that support the opposite point of view.

Ask yourself, “What if I’m wrong?”. This will strengthen your argument by anticipating questions, or you’re going to learn something new and take a more nuanced position.

We tend to focus on what we're going to say next in conversation and we fail to understand the counterargument and really listen to the other party.

Demonstrate that you're listening by reframing their position in your words and then ask for confirmation that you have it right.

Disagreements can create an “us versus them” mentality with clear winners and losers.

A better approach is to ditch the entire notion of winners and losers. Instead, you’re both on the same team working toward a better solution.