Use Curiosity To Overcome Disagreement

The driver bringing me home from a late flight from California to Chicago asks, “Do you know who you’re voting for?”

Questions beginning with a verb are easy. They are yes or no.

“Yes,” I answer. That’s easy. (No, I’m not telling you who.)

But…

“Who?” he asks bluntly.

I think, “Great. I don’t want a 10 pm discussion after a long day and a 5-hour flight.” But I tell him. Then I ask a leading question. It didn’t take much. He was talkative.

I heard a phrase recently—when someone disagrees with you, get curious. Ask questions.

Most (all?) people want to talk about themselves. Ask what they think. Why they think it. What are their fears. What are their hopes.

That can calm argumentativeness. Agreement and understanding may be beyond reach. But détente—maybe.

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