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Developing Maturity Post 5: Don’t Force your Opinion

This series on Developing Maturity focuses on finding ways to develop and grow. Maturity is not just a way to set yourself apart in your career; being mature enhances virtually every aspect of your life. This series is inspired by eqi.org

For the introduction to this series, click here.

 

Don’t Force your Opinion: Even after you have “walked a mile in their shoes.” Forcing your opinion shows that you not only don’t understand their point of view; you’re also not validating them. Stating your point in a mature fashion with compelling evidence is the only way to effectively persuade. This is yet another opportunity to test and display your level of Emotional Maturity.

  • You can’t force someone to change their mind. They will either see your point of view and agree with you, or they won’t. Forcing someone will only have the effect of driving them further from your point of view—making it more difficult to influence them later.
  • Criticizing someone who doesn’t agree with you is a sure-fire way to make sure they won’t listen to you now or in the future. Someone who feels insulted is apt to recruit others to their side and they will side against you.
  • If someone seems to have capitulated, it’s often just to get you to stop talking. They probably quit listening quite a while ago.
  • The debate team, student council or other council membership, or public speaking opportunity will give you the chance to state an opinion and defend it.

Career Prep Academy’s program helps High School and College students develop the key skills employers want. With our help, your student will be prepared for the real world and a rewarding career. Career Prep Academy is a service of CrossRoads. Call us at 317-842-8881 to schedule a consultation. Remote sessions by webinar are available.

Click here for the Sixth post in the series: Ask How Other People are Feeling.