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Whether you start a company with your longtime best friend, a close family member, or a stranger, disagreements are an inevitable part of running a business. But disagreements don’t have to be bad. In fact, they are often the catalyst for growth, innovation and success.
When I founded ButterflyMX in 2014, I built a small but mighty team of bright, talented people. And with several intelligent and talented minds working together towards the same goal, it’s no surprise that we stumble from time to time. But how we reacted to disagreements made a difference.
At ButterflyMX we approach disagreements with respect. We do this to promote a healthy work environment where open discussions are valued.
Read on to find out how you can do the same.
Related: How to Disagree the Right Way
Choose the right time
While engaging with someone with a different perspective may be satisfying in the moment, it is rarely the best long-term solution. Publicly disagreeing with a coworker, especially one you don’t have a long history with, will likely have a negative impact on your relationship.
So, when is a good time to share disagreements with colleagues?
Here are some times when it is healthy to raise disagreements:
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When in private: If the disagreement is between just you and one other person, bringing it to their attention during a one-on-one meeting is much more effective than bringing it up in a group setting. This not only allows the person to respond to your concerns immediately, but also eliminates the awkwardness or awkwardness that comes with public disagreements.
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After the heat of the moment has passed: Often disagreements seem much stronger in the moment than a few hours later. Don’t raise a disagreement if you’re still upset about it. Instead, wait several hours, or even a full day, and raise the issue when you have calmed down and can have a logical discussion.
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In a scheduled meeting: As mentioned above, raising disagreements during a one-on-one meeting is one of the most effective ways to address them. But having meetings with a colleague out of the blue can be a source of controversy. Schedule a meeting in advance and, if appropriate, outline the purpose of the meeting so that both parties arrive ready to have a productive discussion.
Consider the cost
Not every disagreement is worth causing a stir. Before approaching the other party, you need to consider whether it is worth scheduling a discussion.
Consider why you disagree with the other party. Are you worried about how the decision will affect your ROI? Does the idea conflict with your brand?
It might be worth discussing if you can come up with a clear, logical reason why you don’t agree. If you disagree simply because you believe things should be done differently, but can’t back it up with data, it might be worth leaving as is.
Related: 7 Steps to Keep Conflict Healthy
Strengthen opinions with data
It’s easy to disagree with your colleagues. But simply disagreeing with someone isn’t enough to change their point of view. Instead, supporting your opinion with facts strengthens your argument and increases the likelihood that they will agree with you.
Let’s say you disagree with a colleague’s marketing strategy for your new product. Can you support your opinion with numbers to prove your point? If not, it’s important to find data that supports your opinion before bringing the disagreement to light.
Taking the extra time to strengthen your opinions with data will not only help you make your case, but it will also help the other person understand your point of view and why you believe your approach is necessary.
Keep emotions out of it
It’s easy to get passionate about professional and creative disagreements, and that’s not a bad thing; it just shows that you truly care about your job. But you need to stay calm when presenting arguments you don’t agree with.
But why?
Because becoming overly emotional can cause you to lose focus or lose focus. As a result, the person you’re talking to may care about the tone of your argument rather than the content. Keeping your emotions out of your professional disagreements helps you share your point of view without becoming distracted.
Additionally, demonstrating that you can present different points of view without becoming emotional is crucial to your professional development. Demonstrating your clarity in times of stress improves your credibility and increases your colleagues’ respect for you.
Stay flexible
Sharing your ideas and challenging the status quo is necessary to foster innovation in all companies, from brand new startups to legacy companies. But sharing ideas or disagreements doesn’t mean that every new idea you propose will become commonplace. In fact, being willing to compromise and give in to the other side during professional discussions is just as important as sharing new ideas.
The best employees challenge the status quo without drastically disrupting the workplace. You are unlikely to agree with every choice made in the workplace, and sharing your disagreements is necessary for growth. But understanding that not every disagreement will end up getting you what you want is also key.
As much as you share your opinions, be willing to accept the different opinions of your colleagues. Remain flexible and willing to listen to different perspectives, and you’ll set the stage for your company to thrive.
Related: How to accept different perspectives and collaborate more effectively
The key to running a successful business is not selecting a workforce that agrees on every idea. Instead, it’s about guiding employees to raise differing opinions through respectful disagreements.
To respectfully disagree, choose the right time to address issues, consider the cost of addressing them, reinforce your choices with data, keep emotions out of it, and stay flexible.