Written by: Vickie Sullivan | August 23, 2022
How to Position the Truth so People Actually Hear It
The truth. Some people simply don’t want to hear it or even acknowledge your saying it—especially during a disagreement.
When sharing the truth, reaching out to the person is not enough. And standing your ground when the other person pushes back can lead to an argument that never ends.
It’s how you position the truth that can open the door to curiosity, says Julia Minson, associate professor at Harvard Kennedy School and self-proclaimed “decision scientist.” In a recent Time magazine article, she shared some great ideas for how to make the truth more palatable during a disagreement, plus how she’s using a particular strategy to help persuade Russians of the truth about Ukraine: using acknowledgement to create curiosity.
Listen: What we Say First Matters Insert
In the marketplace of ideas, there are a lot of conflicting perspectives. Many of us can’t even agree on a definition of the problem. Minson’s research on the psychology of disagreement can show us creative ways to engage with people whose opinions are different than ours.
Minson says it’s about using specific words and phrases to convey one’s engagement with opposing perspectives.
“When faced with false and dangerous beliefs, our impulse is to make the strongest, most attention-grabbing argument possible. … But such arguments are more likely to inflame resistance than foster dialogue,” she says.
How to Help People Get to the Truth
Instead, Minson says her research shows offering concrete action steps is key to motivating action. Focus on brevity, clarity, signaling receptiveness, and finding common ground. Then provide actionable steps.
For example, in her efforts to enlighten Russian citizens, they send emails that “make just a couple of clear points, focusing on the humanitarian and economic costs of the war, and avoid blaming the Russian people. These messages also explain in a few words how to access websites and browsers that evade government censorship and internet blocks and provide reliable information on what’s really happening in the war.”
So, the next time you have a disagreement or want people to hear the truth about a situation, use Minson’s persuasion strategy.
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