Most conversations don’t fall apart because of disagreement. They fall apart because of misunderstanding.
People talk past each other. They argue positions without knowing if they’re even talking about the same thing.
One of the most powerful tools in healthy dialogue is this:
🧭 Find the shared reality.
❌ Not agreement.
❌ Not compromise.
✅ Just a clear understanding of each other's perspectives.
Enough to say:
💬 “Here’s what you're saying. Here’s what I'm saying. Can we name that together?”
Because the frustration likely isn’t about the disagreement — it’s about not feeling heard.
1️⃣ Understand first.
2️⃣ Make sure they feel understood (which is not the same as 1️⃣).
3️⃣ Then proceed.
If you want to move forward, start there. The rest will come easier.
#SharedReality #CommunicationBreakdowns #LeadershipSkills #ConflictResolution #MakingYourselfClear
