How To Disagree With Someone More Powerful - 7 Steps To Respectfully Disagree
Channel: Enhance.training
Date: 2023-12-28

It is scary to disagree with someone more powerful than you at work. Learn to disagree respectfully and you are more likely to stand out, create more value and earn faster career progress.

Learn 7 ways to respectfully disagree, 5 thought processes for WHEN disagreeing with your boss is the right thing, and 4 actions to improve how you communicate your disagreement.

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Additional Resources and Videos you will find useful:


Feeling Safe at Work – 7 Ways of Creating Psychological Safety in Teams   https://youtu.be/d0Q8FNy5phg
6 Actions For Successfully Instilling Team Direction & Hitting Goals   https://youtu.be/7G58uRTPGG4
7 Steps to Give Performance Feedback to Team Members  https://youtu.be/XqDJNamNevU 
Effective Listening Skills for Managers – Improve Your Communication  https://youtu.be/PmBjYrj3VpA 

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Video Time Stamps

00:00 Intro
01:59 How to decide WHEN to disagree
04:32 7 steps to follow to disagree with someone more powerful
08:20 4 communication actions when voicing your disagreement
11:29 Summary

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How to disagree with your boss is a skill. Voicing your disagreement should only be done after considering the impact of speaking up. If the impact of any change is small, it is probably best to stay quiet. Picking your battles is important. 

When disagree respectfully at work make sure there is a clear business reason why you are disagreeing. Do not disagree for purely personal reasons.

Always take into account of the culture, situation and person when you respectfully disagree. All should factor into the risk versus benefit though process before disagreeing. 

Before disagreeing with the boss consider the risk of saying nothing. What will be the impact on results and how will staying silent impact you in the future. 

The first of the steps to follow when disagreeing with your boss is to agree the guidelines or process for which your boss is okay with your disagreeing.

Next for how to have a respectful disagreement with those more powerful than you, is to ask permission to disagree. This gives them power and puts them into listening mode. 

Next when thinking about how to disagree respectfully, restate the other person’s original position, idea, or solution. This confirms your understanding and that you have considered their perspective. 

I always think it beneficial to explain the purpose of you disagreeing with them. You can confirm the business goals or reasons behind your disagreement. 

Set out your structured argument. When disagree with someone more powerful you want to present yourself as professional and competent. The more compelling your argument, the more likely you will get a change. 

The next of the steps to disagree with your colleagues or boss is to invite their input and feedback. This promotes collaboration and teamwork. 

Finally, to disagree respectfully with someone more powerful than you, state that the final decision is theirs to make. 

There are many ways to disagree politely without upsetting or damaging relationships. How you disagree and how you communicate your disagreement are both very important. 

Don’t avoid disagreeing. Do avoid disagreeing badly. 
If you have any questions on “How To Disagree With Someone More Powerful – 7 Steps To Respectfully Disagree” please leave them in the comments section below and I will get back to you. 

Jess Coles
Enhance.training