Getting into arguments is always tough, whether at work or in your personal life. You can resolve disagreements more easily by steering the conversation towards the impact of each person’s actions rather than their intent.
Image from sahdblunders
Lauren Bacon, writing at 99u, has some examples of how you can open up the discussion:
If you suspect an intent vs impact conversation is in order, try broaching the subject with an opener like, “I’m not sure what your intent was when you made that comment, but the impact on me was ________,” or “I’m concerned that when I said X, it may have had an unintended impact of ________.” Then invite the other party to share their perspective, and do your best to listen with an open mind.
Once you come to a point of agreement, you can follow some simple steps to “make up”. For more advice on how to handle disagreements, check out the full post linked below.
5 Questions You’ll Need to Settle Workplace Disagreements [99u]
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