Whether in person, or through text messaging, social media platforms, or video conference calls, we have more options than ever to connect with each other.
But ideologically and politically, it seems people are further apart than in the past.
No matter if you’re in a business conversation, discussion with a family member, or chatting with a neighbor, you’re often confronted with information that challenges your point of view.
How can you listen, be heard, and understood?
In her nine-minute TED talk, business strategist Julia Dhar explains three essential features of productive disagreement that can lead to more constructive conversations.
Dhar highlights the importance of how we approach conversations:
Not looking for the victory, but the progress.
She discusses tools and techniques she’s used with business organizations, governments, and families to help them have constructive conversations when it feels like the differences are too hard to overcome.
Her first technique caught my attention: have a curiosity conversation.
Before disagreeing strongly to what someone said, comment with one sentence and one question:
I never thought about it exactly that way before.
What can you share that would help me see what you see?
Rather than choosing to clash with others, choose curiosity to help you better understand the perspective of the other person.
Which often makes the other person curious about you and how you see things.
Check out the nine-minute video of Dhar’s TED Salon talk.
Source: TED
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