Quick answers
- How do you handle pushback?
- Acknowledge, restate your reasoning, offer a compromise.
Key takeaways
- Stay calm.
- Acknowledge their view.
- Restate your reasoning.
- Find common ground.
Instead of → Say
| Instead of | Say |
|---|---|
| You're wrong | I hear you. My concern is [X]. What if we [compromise]? |
| That doesn't make sense | I want to understand. Is your concern [A] or [B]? From my side, [reason]. |
Example dialogue
Colleague: I don't think we should ship Friday. You: I hear the concern about QA time. What if we shipped core only and gave QA the extra two days for edge cases? Would that work?
Common mistakes
- Getting defensive.
- Dismissing their view.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I handle pushback?
- Acknowledge their view. Restate your reasoning. Offer a compromise.
- What if they keep pushing back?
- Ask what would change their mind. Suggest a follow-up to dig in.
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