Offer Contrary Points of View Without Irritating Your Colleagues ! ( Be the Devil's Advocate ! Here's how ! )

 
Tue 28 Sept 2021

Offer Contrary Points of View Without Irritating Your Colleagues ! ( Be the Devil's Advocate ! Here's how ! )

No one wants to be that contrarian — the one on the team who always has to slow things down and poke holes in the group’s thinking. People can find that person annoying, but there's huge upside to voicing a dissonant point of view ! Here are a few suggestions for Devil's Advocates !
(1)  Timing : To become a contrarian who your teammates will appreciate, start by learning when to speak out, and when not to. Not every idea needs to be challenged — but some certainly do. How ?
Look for (a) received wisdom that feels under-scrutinized or  (b) complex ideas that have been oversimplified. These are worth asking questions about.
(2) Facts & Research : It helps to bring in outside perspectives when challenging the dominant perspective, so do your research and make well-informed suggestions based on a wide array of sources, conversations, and ideas.
(3) Approach : Remember you’re not tearing down ideas — you’re offering alternative ways of thinking.
(4) Attitude :  Finally, present your suggestions as experiments, not truths. This will allow people to more easily consider your perspective without getting defensive.
This tip is adapted from “How to Be a Smart Contrarian,” by Chengwei Liu