Whenever you volunteer your opinions or concerns,
are you speaking respectfully and tactfully to your coworkers or teammates? Do
so and others are more likely to appreciate your tone and heed your views. If
you sound preachy or tell people what they should do, your ideas, even if they
are stellar, will face a harder sell.
To state your opinions diplomatically and
improve receptivity to your ideas, establish a give-and-take conversational
style when you speak with your team. Rather than spout your ideas, ask
questions so that others do most of the talking.Listen attentively and show
interest in how others arrived at their conclusions. Try it.
These are powerful
engagement skills, and your peers are likely to ask what you think or believe.
And along with this approach comes more attentiveness to what you say. Add a
quick overview of your evidence to support your opinions when offering your
input. Example: “Based on three instances in which we lost a potential
customer, I’m concerned that our sales pitch isn't working very well.” The
study of how to be effective and productive in business group discussions is
called “group discussion dynamics.” It is a highly researched and studied
topic. Lessons learned are available to help you improve your productivity and
achieve more for your employer. Learn more about it to advance your career.
