4 Tips to Navigate Disagreements 🚀

How to get to the bottom of any disagreement, why you should stay present-minded, the importance summarizing, along with roles at J.Crew, Topsort, Entrepreneur’s Organization, and more!

What's up, Next Gen Fam!

Disagreements are a part of life. In fact, Gandhi once said that “honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.”

This week, we’re covering tips to help you navigate disagreements and find success.

Let's dive in!

TIPS

#1. Pause and breathe.

Let’s say you’re working on an important project and your coworker drops the ball. Before you jump in to address your peer, take a moment to pause and breathe. This simple act is often overlooked. When you take a step back, you’re less likely to be overrun by the emotions of the situation.

#2. Uncover deeper interests.

A quick way to resolve disagreements is to uncover deeper interests. Example: Imagine you and a friend are studying in a room. You want to open the window, but your friend doesn’t. But then you uncover their deeper interests: It turns out your friend doesn’t want a draft, while you just want some fresh air. So you resolve to open a window in the adjacent room and both sides are happy!

#3: Summarize what you’ve heard.

Sometimes disagreements can grow into situations where both sides talk past each other. To prevent this type of miscommunication, summarize what you’ve heard after someone shares their view. “Just to confirm I understand, you feel that…..is that right?” This helps both sides stay on the same page!

#4: Focus on the present.

As you work through an issue, it may be tempting to discuss problems from the past. But this is counterproductive. So focus only on the present situation. For example: If the conversation drifts to past events, say: “I think we’re ready to discuss solutions. What do you think is a good path forward?”

QUESTION FOR YOU

Which book from the past year has had the greatest impact on you?

OPPORTUNITIES

  • 🚀 GSEA, a global competition where student entrepreneurs can win prizes upwards of $5K, opened its applications for the 2023 season.

  • 🕹️ Topsort, a venture-backed startup that provides eBay-like auction services, is hiring a Marketing Intern.

  • 🥼 J.Crew, the popular clothing brand, is seeking an Associate Product Manager.

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