If you want to show your parents that you should push your curfew back or are trying to tell employees to work harder, getting others to hear your opinion takes a bit of finesse. You can try to learn to choose good opinions to convey and adapt them to suit your goals and also to convey these opinions in the most convincing and best possible way whether it is orally, in writing, or in some other way.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Giving Good Opinions
Step 1. Try to evaluate the situation
No matter who you're discussing with, expressing your opinion requires different tactics and techniques, depending on the situation at hand. Try to evaluate who you are discussing with and how they view you before deciding what tactics to use.
- If you're trying to share your opinion with an influential person such as your parent, boss, or someone else who is more powerful than you, it's a good idea to emphasize how your opinion will make things better for all parties. How can your family, company or group benefit from what you propose?
- If you're trying to get a child or your employee to understand the opinion you're trying to convey, it's a good idea to explain it in detail and try to do this without coming across as condescending. Even if you're "teaching a lesson," try not to belittle the person you're talking to so you can better convey your opinion. Never say "because that's what I said."
- If you're trying to get your point across to a partner, partner, or a close friend, someone on an equal footing, it's a good idea to emphasize that you're equal and speak clearly. Don't beat around the bush. If you're talking to someone who knows you intimately, avoid the usual small talk with a boss.
Step 2. Express your opinion productively
It's a good idea to share your opinion to solve the problem, not "win the debate." If you want to make your opinion understood, make sure it needs to be heard in the interest of the person hearing it, or the interest of the group, not just because you want it to be heard. It's easier to express opinions that are important and productive for others to hear. Your opinion should help other people, not hinder them.
- To find out if your opinion is productive or not, imagine other people sharing the same opinion or idea with you. What is your opinion? Does it benefit you?
- A boss might say, "Our fees are too high, so you have to reduce your hours. Sorry." He had said what he had to say, but it was unproductive. Instead, try saying something like this: "We're really struggling with costs. In order for you all to continue to work well as a team as usual, we're sadly having to cut back on your hours a bit."
Step 3. Present a valid reason
The most important part of expressing your opinion is figuring out exactly what to say and why it's valid. Opinions that do prove to be true have good reasons behind them. Even though it's an unpleasant fact and some people won't be happy to hear it, you can rest assured that it's a fact that has to be told.
- It is clear that it is important for your child to study hard at school. But why? It's easier to get your child to study harder if you emphasize how he'd be happier if he got better grades and could enjoy school more, instead of saying "because that's what Mom/Dad said" or "because your friend Jimmy is studying hard."."
- State the facts without further ado as simply as possible. Tell your child that studying is important in their youth, as well as learning to take care of themselves. You won't always be there to help them, and it's important for children to learn as much as possible so they can grow well.
Step 4. Anticipate objections
If you want to express a non-negotiable opinion, try to anticipate any flaws in your opinion that the other party may notice. Before expressing your opinion, try to beat the other party by voicing any objections they can raise and quelling those objections before they have time to say anything.
- If you tell your child to study harder to be a good adult, you may hear them say, "But I don't want to be a good adult, I just want to play video games." It's normal for parents to issue "that's why mom/dad said that" ultimatum when they hear this rebuttal, but try to use this situation to teach them a lesson.
- Express the anticipated rebuttal: "I know you want to play video games all day. Mom/dad did when you were 7 years old. But as you get older, things change and you need more skills."
Part 2 of 3: Expressing Your Opinion Out Loud
Step 1. Speak slowly and clearly
Opinions that are conveyed in a mumble, rush and chaos cannot be communicated properly. If you want to prove your point of view, try to convey it slowly and confidently and don't stop until everything has been said. Other people tend to listen more carefully if you speak slowly and calmly, rather than speaking hastily as if you were nervous.
If you are in a large group discussion and it is difficult to be heard, try to get their attention and then speak slowly. Try saying, "I have something to say" and then pause. Take a breath before continuing. Once you have their attention, they will continue to pay attention to you as long as you have your say. Make everyone hear you
Step 2. Keep your voice calm and friendly, but not tense
If the other person senses any kind of emotion or doubt in your tone of voice, they probably won't listen to you. The anger or arrogance implied in your voice can also make other people become defensive or even ignore you, instead of listening intently to you. Try to speak calmly, even when breaking bad news or rebutting your boss's opinion.
- Let others hear your true thoughts and feelings. Trying to appear "friendly" by expressing your opinion in flowery language will make your presentation ineffective and lead others to doubt you.
- Try to clear your mind and take a deep breath before expressing your opinion. You can use an opening sentence like, "Maybe what I'm about to say isn't something I like, but it's my opinion." Sentences like this imply you're thinking about the good of everyone, rather than trying to be provocative or make fun of.
Step 3. Try using sentences with the word "I" so the other person doesn't feel attacked
Wrap your opinion in a sentence like that so it looks like what you're saying is an idea that's okay if you don't agree. If you're going to say something controversial, keep it focused on yourself by using the word "I," instead of emphasizing it on the other person.
For example, you shouldn't say, "The music you're playing is too loud," which sounds confrontational and won't make for productive communication. Instead, try saying, "If things were quieter, it would be easier for me to finish this project. Is it okay to turn the music down a bit?" This makes a big difference
Step 4. Describe your goal
It's important to give reasons when you're trying to express an opinion, but it's also important to focus not only on why you feel your opinion is right, but how it can help you achieve an even bigger goal. Opinions that require more context than complicated reasons.
For example, you can say that the music a coworker is playing is "too loud" by citing decibel statistics and mentioning hearing loss from listening to loud rock music. Even if they are valid, they can't help you get your opinion heard. Try to focus on how the music playing is holding you back from doing your job and achieving your goals at the office for the day, rather than on your coworker's hearing capacity
Step 5. Try not to beat around the bush
The opinion should be presented briefly. Don't mince words and try not to continue babbling after your opinion has been conveyed. It's normal to talk at length, but it's best to get straight to the point.
- If you tend to express your opinion something like this: "This is probably just a personal opinion, as I'm fairly new here and I have less experience compared to others, so please correct me if I'm wrong, but I see it looks like we can reduce paper usage in the office? " try to shorten sentences to the point and convey more authoritatively. "I see we use too much paper in the office, five reams per day. Was there any discussion about the possibility of reducing paper use before?"
- Many people talk too long, repeating the point that has been conveyed. If you tend to be like this, stop talking. Let the atmosphere be quiet. Pausing after you've made your point makes your ideas digestible and also gives yourself time to reorganize your thoughts. Try to train yourself to press the pause button while putting on a calm face.
Step 6. Listen to the other person
Once you've made your point, try to stop talking and listen to what the other person has to say. It's best not to jump right in to defend yourself or prepare an argument. Try to sit quietly and let the other person respond while listening carefully. The less protest you give, the more likely the other person is to approve of you.
- It is very important to listen carefully in a discussion. A conversation can become contentious when you focus solely on what you are going to say next, instead of what the other person is saying. Don't be too busy thinking about what kind of response you will give until you have really listened to what was said and processed the other person's opinion.
- If necessary, try to respond calmly to their opinion. Allow yourself to be influenced by others and use this conversation as an opportunity to share ideas with you and the other party to form a new plan or discourse together. Try to collaborate.
Step 7. Learn not to get stuck
In delivering a discourse, convey the discourse with your biggest and best reasons, convey it to the desired party only once, then try not to get caught up. Getting caught in a heated argument with someone who just wants to argue is a waste of time. Once you've made your point, it's best not to say it again with weaker evidence, or let the other party tire you out on unimportant things. Try to learn not to get caught up in the situation at hand and give the other person a chance to think about what you just said.
Part 3 of 3: Expressing Your Opinion in Other Ways
Step 1. Write down some opinions that you want to convey clearly
If these things are complicated or technical, it's a good idea to try to prove them in writing, instead of trying to discuss them verbally. It can be helpful to write complex business proposals, technical project descriptions, schematics, and even complex emotional conversations, so that others can read them before you go over them verbally and answer any questions that arise.
- Write a memo for a business idea, or a new concept of how to run a business. If you want to present an idea to a superior or subordinate, writing down the idea will make it easier to believe and give others time to think about it.
- Make an outline for a complex concept or discourse, try to divide it into several parts so that it is easier to understand. If you think you've just come to understand the philosophical side of something very complex, it's a good idea to write it down, rather than trying to explain it verbally.
- If you're having trouble in a relationship, try writing your complicated feelings down in a letter. This will help you gather your thoughts, and can help you discuss them later.
Step 2. Present some opinions visually
Sometimes the notion that a photo equals a thousand words is true. You can use pictures, photos, or videos to get your point across without putting it into words. Charts, graphs and photos are a quick way to show statistics, growth or decline, and leave the other party to draw their own conclusions from what you're trying to convey. It's hard to refute a graph that shows a decline in employee productivity.
A common way of opening the eyes of alcoholics that they should stop drinking is to record their drunken behavior and then play it in front of them. Just let the video do the talking for them
Step 3. Make the listeners think that they got the idea you want to convey
A good technique to use is to ask lots of questions that lead the other party to the same conclusion as you and plant the idea in their heads. Try to act like Socrates and ask them some of these guiding questions.
If you see a lot of paper used in the office, try asking your boss how much paper you use in the office a week. Then respond to the answers with the question, "Seems like a lot, doesn't it?" (It would be better if you prepare statistics on average paper usage in other similar offices)
Step 4. Tell a story
While personal experience isn't the most valid reason for an opinion, it can make other people more connected to you and to the opinion you're trying to convey. Especially if you're trying to express your opinion on a controversial issue, linking yourself to this issue can make your point of view more plausible.
If you have an opinion on something you've personally experienced, say: "As someone who has watched his grandfather suffer from dementia for a long time, I know that palliative care is more complicated than some medications."
Step 5. Avoid wordy things
For some people, overdoing things is so annoying that you should evaluate the expectations of the person you want to talk to as well as the context of the conversation. So it's best not to make a Power Point presentation to give your poker club an opinion, or involve a silly participant into a panel discussion with a representative from the Mental Health Council. It's a good idea to adapt your delivery method to the situation at hand.
