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Do you ever wonder what are the best ways to challenge another person’s point of view during a discussion and still get your ideas across?

The first thing to remember is to listen carefully to the other person. You need to be sure of what they’ve said before you challenge them or disagree with them. Think - does what I’m about to say follow on from what they’ve said?

Also, if you’re not sure what someone means – or you want to get a better understanding of what they’re saying – ask them to clarify what they’ve said and explain it more clearly. There are questions you can use here to help, such as, “Are you suggesting…?” or “So, do you mean that…?”. These help you better understand what the other person has said, before you respond.

A good way to bring in other ideas into a discussion is to play ‘devil’s advocate’. This means taking a position you might not actually agree with. This allows you to bring in different or even controversial, opinions – which may energize the discussion. You can help explore alternative viewpoints by using phrases such as, “Others might say…” or “Would you still think that if…” This way, different ideas can be introduced.

Another tip is to be friendly – and then challenge! Acknowledge when someone else makes a good point and then take the discussion in another direction. You could say: “I can see your point, however…” Also, remember to ask for evidence. When another person makes a point, ask where they got the information or facts from. “What’s the evidence for that?”

This will help bring the conversation back to the texts you’re discussing, which is an important thing to do. It can also show that the points being made are backed up by facts – and that the discussion is well thought-out and there’s proof being provided for what’s being said.

So, there you go. Great tips to help you challenge others respectfully and to move the discussion forward.