STRANGE BUT TRUE FACTS ABOUT INDONESIA

FIVE SKILLS for DISAGREEING EFFECTIVELY

These five skills will help you disagree without burning bridges.

• Emotional intelligence:

  Emotional intelligence (EQ) is about understanding how your emotions influence your behavior. EQ affects all aspects of your life, including how you relate to co-workers. Personal agendas and underlying emotions can create or worsen workplave disagreements. Asses and take charge of your EQ.

  Listening

  Although it is a critical element of communication skills, listening isn't always the first instinct when you are involved in a disagreement. Sometimes it takes real effort and skill to sit back and just listen. Use positive words and body language to let the other person know that you are taking note of what he/she is saying. Try to avoid negative responses such as rolling your eyes or interrupting.

  Baseline communication

  In the heat of disagreement, it's easy to forget how to communicate effectively. Being frustrated can lead to unkind words, accusatory statements, and aggressive tones that can turn a professional disagreement into a personal attack.

  Problem solving

  When confusion or high emotions rule the workplace, disagreement are bound to result. Effective problem solving can help avoid the circumstances that pit co-worker against co-worker.

  Negotiating

  We can all relate to the frustration of knowing we are right and our colleague is wrong. But this stance usually intensifies disagreements. One way to control the scope of a workplace argument is for two parties to negotiate a solution.