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I recently attended a business think tank meeting where a relatively new group member uttered a two-word phrase that momentarily transformed the room to a state of stunned silence. His two-word, passionately stated declaration:
If you seek a cohesive exchange of ideas for potential solutions, I believe that using any form of this phrase to express a difference of opinion will defeat your purpose.
One of the strongest of human needs is the need to be right.
Some argue that this need can be strong enough to induce people to fly airplanes into skyscrapers. When you threaten or challenge this coveted need, you are likely to stimulate an emotional reaction, perhaps an angry confrontation. Even in the absence of a reaction, you have expressed the ultimate sign of disrespect for the other person.
What are your chances of influencing the other person to respect your point of view?
What are you saying about your respect for the other person?
And, what does it do for others’ respect for you?
For those who believe it does, I “respectfully disagree” and even “beg to differ“.
Your respectful differences of opinion via comments are welcomed.
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