Expressing yourself in business: sometimes complicated, but possible - Featured

2023-09-13 13:52:50

September 13, 2023

In a meeting or in a two-person discussion, professional relationships do not always provide the opportunity to really say what you think. Why ? And how can we improve these blocking points?

An ordinary subject and a point of disagreement arises in the discussion… there several reactions are possible: adhere to the opinion of the group leader without forming your own opinion, calmly argue what seems to you to be common sense even if you feel that your colleagues and superiors are not in phase with you, or they do not agree and shout it loud and clear without listening to what others have to say, even if it means hurting others without even realizing it.

This situation is surely not foreign to you, between friends, family or colleagues. And many of us believe that nothing can change, that it is like this and not otherwise, and that after all, these attitudes are part of the relationship, of the balance of a group itself. “ These exchange terms can work. But this does not prevent the destructive impact of the way one expresses one’s disagreement on the relationship. friendly, family or professional », Describes Professor Frode Held, Norwegian scientist and specialist in social psychology.

Why isn’t it easy for everyone to express disagreement without getting angry? “ Points of contention often arise from ambiguity or misunderstanding.” Faced with this lack of clarity or precision, « it can be difficult to express your point of view orally in the fairest way possible ».

Social life endures the health crisis

For scientists, this observation has its place in the current context. “ In connection with Covid-19, the time spent in front of screens and on the phone has increased for many of us. The notions of listening, expression of emotions and respect may have suffered. »

Especially since work cultivates this relationship with disagreement. “ In some companies, expressing your point of view, whatever it may be, is spontaneous and even nourishes collective intelligence. In other groups, sharing one’s own point of view may be associated with a lack of respect. »

To illustrate this social phenomenon, Professor Held’s team takes the activity of a group of researchers as an example. They work well together. except when an error or unforeseen event occurs and it was necessary to intervene », and therefore express criticism or even questions about this or that work. The collective of the group was dissolving “ because the researchers simply did not have the reflex to discuss and think together “. A human quality to be favored without nourishing “ long discussions and formulate systematic oppositions which often waste time. »

*Norwegian university of science and technology (NTNU) Business School