Rather than engaging in potentially difficult or uncomfortable conversations, many of us try to avoid them altogether. But there may be a more effective approach. . . “
Source: Harvard Business Review, November 16, 2020. Link. When someone has a sharply different point of view than your own, the natural tendency is to either avoid a conversation with that person or to try to convince them they are wrong. Neither is a productive approach.
Research shows that there is a better way to engage: communicating your willingness to engage with another’s views by using language that signals you are genuinely interested in that person’s perspective. This behavior can be both learned and improved.
INSIGHTS: Francesca Gino says that even when discussing the most difficult topics, it is possible for people with polar-opposite points of view to have a constructive conversation. She identifies four strategies that can help us leverage conversational receptiveness:
- Acknowledge the other person’s perspective
- Hedge your claims
- Phrase your arguments in positive terms
- Point to areas of agreement, even if small or obvious