Disagreements are a part of life. Learning to disagree agreeably and remain friends is a valuable skill. Disagreements exist because you are different from the other people in your life. Your opinions are different. Your personality is different. Your background is different. Your gender is different. God made you different! These differences lead to disagreements. Since you cannot avoid disagreements, the better solution is to learn to deal with them. How do you disagree agreeably?

In the first century, the apostle Paul told the Ephesians to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). This suggestion is still good today. Unfortunately, it’s easy to blast your employer, business partner, employee, spouse or other family member with an angry comment that you think they deserve but isn’t nice. The discussion immediately ceases to be productive. On the other hand, you may err on the side of being too nice, so you tiptoe around the subject saying positive things or nothing at all but not what needs to be said because you are afraid to discuss it. Let’s take a closer look at these two bad options.

Let’s start with aggressive anger. Some people look forward to a good fight. They have had practice and they are ready for it. “You want a fight? Good. Let’s fight.” They are not afraid of a fight and may even think this is normal based on the family they grew up in. They may be truthful, but not very loving.

More people fall into the second bad option. They are afraid of controversy and tend to run away from the important, difficult conversations. They want to avoid a confrontation. This is a way of running away or escaping. They may be loving, but not truthful.

These two alternatives are famous but opposites. One is called “fight” and the other “flight.” Neither works well. As children, we tend to see only two options. As we mature, we need to consider, develop and perfect a third option: Tell the truth in love.

You must say what needs to be said but in a kind and loving way. Another way of putting Paul’s first century words into 21st Century language is that you need to be “honest but respectful.” This is how the current book Crucial Conversations puts it. You need to learn, then master, how to have productive controversial conversations. The truthful, honest thing to say is for you to state your opinion or position accurately and put it on the table for discussion even if it is controversial.

Consider two problems that could derail this conversation. First, the other party feels attacked and decides either to attack you or run away. Do not respond in kind! If they feel attacked, they will defend themselves or counter-attack and not discuss calmly. Focus on making the discussion safe for them. Don’t call them names or recount how many times they have failed in the past, or point out that they have no idea how to have a pleasant disagreement. Show respect and love for them. Deal with what they’ve said in the same manner you want them to deal with what you’ve said.

A second problem is that the goal of the conversation may not be focused enough. What benefit do you want out of this conversation and what will the other party get out of it? Are you trying to be more profitable in your business? Suggest to your business partner that you are looking for ways to be more profitable in your business and then suggest the specific idea you have that you know will be controversial.  Are you trying to improve your marriage? Suggest that you want to talk about how to improve your marriage.  Your spouse might be interested in that conversation but have very different suggestions on how to improve it. However, if you have a mutual goal or purpose, the discussion can be focused in a way to get both people to seek a mutually beneficial solution even if the ideas start out different. Make sure your business or marriage partner is interested in the same general goal so you can talk about it productively and the other person sees the benefit they can derive. Think about what you both are interested in on the same general subject. Come up with ideas together. Frame the question in such a way that both parties want to reach the same goal.

Mature adults need to learn to speak to each other in an honest but kind way. They need to make a safe place for the other to share. As you learn to do this, these conversations become easier and your ability to deal with controversy more successful. Put yourself in the other’s shoes so you know their interests and perspective.  What motivates them? Hopefully, you act based on what is best for both of you. Ask the other person what is best and then seek a mutually beneficial solution. You can be creative together. Once the other party sees that, they can also learn to act based upon what’s best for both of you. When that happens, you create a safe place to have difficult discussions and you can disagree agreeably while working toward a solution.