Celebrated Harvard Kennedy School Professor and
behavioral scientist Julia Minson has devoted her career to understanding the
psychology of disagreement and its relevance to negotiations,
conflict-resolution, and decision-making. In this revolutionary book, Minson
reveals the counterintuitive secret to living a life of less drama and more
impact
How many times have you tried to resolve a dispute by overwhelming someone with
a flood of facts, appealing to your counterpart's emotions, or pointing out the
hypocrisy of their arguments only to end up in an even deeper disagreement than
when you started? Julia Minson's two decades of research into the science of
disagreement uncovers two insights that can change every disagreement:
persuasion doesn't work nearly as well as we think it does, and displaying
receptiveness to opposing views is the key to not only preventing conflict, but
also to forging stronger relationships and making better decisions.
The science shows that receptive individuals don't just fight less, they also
get more done-they are better negotiators, better peacemakers, and yes, better
influencers than the rest of us. Through original research and case
studies, How to Disagree Better will show you:
- Why
persuasion doesn't work as well as you think it does
- How
you can reach better conflict outcomes simply by signaling receptiveness
- That
disagreeing well is a skill all of us can learn
- How
to apply these ideas at home with your partner and kids, as well as at
work in your negotiations and decision-making
By practicing receptiveness, you'll see your conflicts soften, your
conversations deepen, and your relationships grow stronger. You will create a
richer, wiser, kinder life for yourself and for those around you-and you will
find them agreeing with you a little more often, too.