Great conversations find common ground. If both parties look for things they have in common, most often they will realise that there are very few things they actually disagree with.
If you begin with the belief you are miles apart, on all the issues, then you probably will be. Our minds tend to prove beliefs we hold.
But if you believe you probably have a lot more in common than you think, your brain will seek out those common points. And often you’ll find that it is true.
In all discussions, find common ground. You have way more of it than you think.
Everyone has something in common with someone else. Find out what you have in common and work on that. Build bridges.
Life gets a lot easier if you are looking for common ground.
Oh, and if you don’t feel the need to blame anyone.
This is usually the best course of action. Anyone not able or willing to look for common ground together is usually unworthy of having a discussion with.
Most topics require precision of detail to get to any true understanding. People not willing to take the time to explore in greater depths, by employing sweeping generalisations with little or no data, should be avoided. They demonstrate little desire to think beyond their cerebral island or one track mindset.
If you have a difference of opinion, try to find some common ground. Do you agree on certain aspects of the topic? Are there periphery ideas that you see similarly?
You may disagree about football being the best sport in the world. However, you could agree sports is important for health reasons, that football is one of the top 10 most watched sports and that it is one of the lowest cost sports in its basic format – you only need a ball.
Walking away with a few agreed points is a real win, even if you still disagree with the original point. It humanises the other person and you will feel less animosity towards the other person. This way you can feel good about the person while disagreeing. This is much better than the name calling, the frustration and being disgruntled.
It’s good to find common ground when you are speaking with others. That’s why we look for common relationships, geographies, schools and other meaningful connections.
Keep them in mind. It’s a great thing to do.
