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Present, Don’t Persuade
One of the most common mistakes we make in a disagreement is to convince ourselves that we must persuade the other person to see our point of view.
But all we really need to do is lay out the facts or circumstances. Though people are first and foremost emotional creatures, their emotions are guided by rationality and reason—for the most part.
Assignment
Put this tip to the test. Identify one issue about which you disagree with someone, and approach him on it. Just lay out the facts, without stacking the deck in your favor, and see what result you get. If the person meets you halfway, then you’ve made progress, and you’ve found a more effective way to manage conflict.
When you lay out the facts of a situation—in a ...

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