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Great debate: how to disagree without being disagreeable
Entrepreneur, Nov, 2005 by Marc Diener
Just because it sounds like you're disagreeing doesn't mean you actually are--it could be a simple miscommunication. Often, you'll find there's really nothing to argue about.
Some helpful advice:
* CONSIDER UNDERLYING CONCERNS. If it's clear you're disagreeing, make sure you understand what the other side really wants. Don't assume you know. Consider this classic: Two kids squabble over the last orange in the fridge. Dad hears the ruckus and, without a word, slices the fruit in equal halves and gives one to each child. Yet they still squabble! Why? One kid wanted to eat the pulp, and the other just wanted to play with the rind!
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* PUT A PIN IN IT. If you reach an impasse, consider "agreeing to disagree." Solutions come more easily as trust builds.
* EXPLAIN YOURSELF. If you must say no, deliver it diplomatically, and provide a plausible explanation. Respect your opponent's intelligence, and they will not resent you.
* UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF NO. Being difficult has strategic advantages. The stony countenance that says "Don't even think of asking" can discourage even the sturdiest opponent, and a flat "No" is often the best way to quash idiotic demands. But protect your reputation. There's a big difference between being savvy and tough, and simply being a jerk.
A speaker and attorney in Los Angeles, MARC DIENER is author of Deal Power.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Entrepreneur Media, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
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Most Popular Articles in Business
- Research and Markets : Tesco Plc - SWOT Framework Analysis
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- eBay made easy: ready to start an eBay business? These 5 simple steps will ...
- Katrina's lawsuit surge: a legal battle to force insurers to pay for flood ...
- Wal-Mart's newest distribution center opened last month near the southwest ...
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