I find that agreeing to disagree is very important. It is one of those virtues that ripples over into private and professional relationships. I find it is very important to always remember that not everyone is going to agree with you, but their opinion is important and they are entitled to it.

Remember Patience is a Virtue

Don’t be blind-sided at work. The boss specifically tells you how something is to be done, and in what time it has to be completed. Do you then bounce that great idea you have been perfecting for the past few months off of him, right then and there? Will you try to circumvent presenting it in a meeting, which would open you up to a lot more criticism, possibly negative feedback, and disagreement?

Sometimes, you might feel the urge to slide it into an unrelated conversation with your boss. Don’t do it – here’s why:

First of all, if you have brainstormed a business idea and want to present it, it needs to be discussed in a professional manner. Being eager is natural, but you have to wait until the opportunity arises to present it. Timing is very important for good results.

You have to remember: time is valuable and so are fresh new ideas. You want to be taken seriously, so bring it up in a business meeting. Don’t be afraid to put your idea in the spotlight, in front of many others – this way you will get valuable feedback from your peers and the boss. Don’t be surprised if the boss says it’s a great idea but can’t be applied. Don’t think they have dismissed it, or you.

How to Handle Criticism

You have to be ready and able to handle criticism. The only kind of criticism that belongs in your life is constructive. Anything other than that I would take for what it’s worth: absolutely nothing.

You can still take something away from criticism that is not meant to help, but hurt: a mental mark that the person in question will not be asked again in the future. This, in turn:

• will give you a personal advantage when streamlining your productivity,
• will help you rule out those peers who are only there to pick up their paycheck and take up space,
• thus, who will most likely not be of any help to you in the future, but a complete waste of time.

Agreeing / disagreeing with friends and the significant other

Agreeing to disagree is an unspoken law when it comes to true friends and your significant other. You can be yourself. They already love you and are part of your inner circle.

Close female friends
I consider myself lucky to have two friends I have known in different stages of my life, who have stuck by me through everything.

One minute, we disagree – and twenty minutes later we’re sharing a hot fudge sundae on the couch talking about something else.

Your lives have been entwined for so long, that you can finish their sentence before they do usually.

You value their opinion, and they respect your decision to use their advice or not. They are going to be the more compassionate ones when it comes to you making a wrong choice.

They will bite their tongues before saying “I told you so”. They will go the gamut to support you emotionally.

Close guy friends
Well they got your back always. Natural protectors. And they love to debate.

Will still stick around when he hates the guy you are seeing. Will be your date for a business function if he is available.

You won’t tell him the full extent of your conversation when he called you in the middle of the night drunk.

Significant other
Disagreeing with your spouse or boyfriend isn’t the end of the world. It is where the relationship grows. A disagreement is actually a good thing because more often than not, you gain valuable insight from another perspective.

Remember that your significant other many times will know you better than you know yourself, and will be in a better position to give you advice and constructive criticism than anyone else.

Agreeing to disagree is the first part of learning to co-exist with each other, be it in business, with friends, or with your significant other. And if you’re smart, you will know to take something out of every disagreement and critique you receive – and use it to grow.