Striving Towards Excellence

-Karthik Gurumurthy

When you disagree with someone, say what you think clearly, and just once. You don’t need to repeat it, explain it five different ways, or keep pushing until the other person agrees with you.

Short disagreements are easier on everyone. They don’t turn into arguments. They don’t leave hard feelings behind. And they actually work better, since people are more likely to consider your point if you make it once and let it sit, rather than hammering on it.

For example:

• Instead of: “I really don’t think we should launch on Friday, the timing feels off, and honestly I’ve said this before, and I just think we’re rushing it, and if it goes wrong we’ll regret it.”
  Try: “I’d hold off on launching Friday. The timing feels rushed.”
• Instead of: “You always do this, you never listen when I bring something up, and it happens every single time we talk about money.”
  Try: “I don’t think you heard me on this. Can we revisit it?”
• Instead of: repeating your objection in a meeting three different ways because no one responded the first time.
  Try: stating it once, then letting the group move forward, even if no one addresses it directly.

So next time you disagree with someone: say your piece, keep it brief, and then let it go. You don’t have to win to be right.