Let’s NOT Agree to Disagree
From a purely literal perspective, the phrase, “let’s agree to disagree” sounds fine. It implies that although two ideologies are very different, those who subscribe to them can still coexist. They also suggest moving on from - if not resolving - a conflict--which is absolutely the best-case scenario at times
However, we’ve all experienced a time when someone’s true meaning wasn’t expressly stated--a time where we’ve had to read between the lines (or, in this case, beyond the words!) And the phrase, “let’s agree to disagree,” often means something (or multiple things!) different from those words alone.
Without clearly-defined context, it’s impossible to understand each other. If your goal is to communicate more effectively in the workplace, it’s a good idea to avoid vague or loaded phrases like this one altogether. The more challenging part, though, comes from learning to interpret, “let’s agree to disagree” when it’s pointed at you.
At ONE EIGHTY, we’ve heard this phrase used with a ton of wildly different connotations--ranging from apathy, to annoyance, and even aggression! Read on to learn more about 6 common hidden meanings of, “let’s agree to disagree” so you can quickly unpack the core workplace conflict, then work to resolve it. Download and learn more.
