3 Ways to Say "You're Wrong"
With that in mind, here are three phrases that I've used to tell someone they're wrong, without actually having to say it:
"I see your point, however I think..." - The important part of this phrase is I see your point. Acknowledging the other person's point of view is critical in getting them to listen to you. Even if you don't actually see their point, you need to make them feel like you do. Once you get past that, they'll be much more receptive to what you have to say.
"Hmm..What if we..." - This time, the Hmm is what you use to show that you're giving their idea serious thought. It may sound silly, but a simple verbal indication such as this can go a long way. Now that you've shown that you are serious about their idea, you can hit them with yours using the What if we.. line. By using we, you're including them in the solution and by using if, you're making a suggestion and not a direct order.
"The way I'm looking at it..." - Being able to explain the reasons behind your point of view is essential to this kind of conversation. This strength of this particular phrase is that it allows you to explain your reasoning before you hit them with your idea. For example, you could say: "The way I'm looking at it, we don't have enough trucks to make all of the deliveries by next week. What if we prioritize the deliveries and decide which ones are absolutely necessary?". This way, you have them thinking your solution out with you. They will be much more likely to go along with your idea if they come to the conclusions themselves.
These are just three of the phrases you can use. There are many more out there, it just depends on your situation. Also, you can combine some of these phrases (as shown in the last example with the What if we...) to fit where you need them. When it comes down to it, there's always a way to tell someone they're wrong. Sometimes it just takes a little more thought to do so.
Related Tags: argument, conflict, work conflict, work argument, argument help, work help
At Workplace Life, I specialize in making the life of the everyday business professional easier. For free tutorials on common Microsoft Office applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel, career management advice, office life advice, funny office stories, and professional email tips visit http://www.workplacelife.com.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Smile Therapy At The Front Desk
Walk into any type of medical office and the first thing you should see is a smile with a warm and f - What Are The Costs Of Hiring Culturally-Incompetent Staff?
It may come as a surprise to the casual observer that many organizations never consider the conseque - Right Choice Of Words For Effective Business Communication
Communication is a process by which meanings are exchanged among people through the use of words. Bu - Don't Throw The Baby Out With The Bathwater
I recently read about a business philosophy that is starting to become a popular water cooler topic - Improve Your Relationships by Cutting Them Off At Their Knees!
Perhaps your work colleagues are causing you to experience stress through their methods of communica - What's Your Communication Quotient? Workplace Communication - Your Key to Success!
Forget GQ! These days it's your CQ that matters...your Communication Quotient. Degrees and awards a - Not Understanding Questions - Is It Me or Is It Them?
To begin with, this is a great question. Let's begin by breaking down what you've just asked me into - Speaking with Your Authentic Voice
Imagine a world where everyone spoke their truth.If that stirs up an, "Oh my Gosh, I couldn't do tha - Is High Definition Video Conferencing Right for Your Business?
If you are looking into purchasing a video conferencing solution for your business, chances are you - Workplace Predators
Polar bears are known for fierceness and lack of natural predators, although wolves and walruses can
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Intercultural Stereotyping: We Are All Guilty Of It!
Defined as "beliefs about the characteristics, attributes, and behaviours of members of certain grou - Think Local, Act Global
Any observant professional would have now been aware of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank's advertisem - Communicating with Singaporeans: Understanding 6 Key Aspects
To the first-time visitor, Singapore is a thoroughly Asian country with Western trappings. Not to me - Listening is Loving
When you really listen to other human beings you are:• honoring their unique presence in the univers - 14 Work Behavior Sins You Don't Want to Make
Are you a good co-worker, or are you annoying the life out of those around you? Many people claim t - How To Understand Cross-Cultural Analysis
Cross-cultural analysis could be a very perplexing field to understand with many different viewpoint - Laughter and Fun are the Best Medicine for Companies
The immune system is the body's defence mechanism to handle viruses. Laughter and fun have been he - Eye Protection and Safety Glasses - Workplace Safety
The most common form of eye protection is safety glasses. I have always hated wearing safety glasse - Important Uses Of Stickers And Labels In Your Business
For businesses, the need to be orderly and organized when it comes to documents, files and records i - Creating Workplace Harmony: Discover and Release Hidden Causes of Tension
There is nothing that disrupts productivity and satisfaction at the workplace as much as tension tha