How to Successfully Disagree With Your Boss

By Rafael Maga?a

Your boss has just announced that he expects that a new project will complete in three weeks. You don't think it's possible. A senior colleague proposes a new business plan, but you don't think it's a good idea. It can be a challenge knowing what to do when someone more powerful than you has an idea that you might not necessarily agree with.

It's natural to want to avoid conflict where you have the weaker hand. Yet, you can't simply pretend to agree with a point of view that you see to be incorrect. It wouldn't be right or fair to hide your real opinion. Here is how you should go about disagreeing with someone when your position makes it hard for you to do so.

Form a realistic idea of what the risks are

Often, the mind gets carried away thinking of the risks involved in stating an unpopular fact. It's possible that your mind simply overreacts to the idea of going up against someone more powerful. In reality, they may be briefly upset, but come to appreciate how you had the courage to tell them what you really thought.

You should also think of the risks involved in not saying what you have on your mind. You may lose an opportunity to state an important fact, and lose the trust of your team as a result. You should weigh the risks either way before you decide what to do.

Consider waiting

Before you speak out, you do need to be clear about your exact reasons for disagreeing. You may need time to wait for all the facts, and to think things through. It would even be a reasonable idea to wait to see if there are others on the team like you, who disagree with the point of view that the powerful person has expressed. The more you talk to them about their reasons, the clearer you may become about what you want to say.

Even if you do feel that you're ready to state your opinion, it would be good idea to wait until you are alone with your superior. Disagreeing in public is usually far more difficult than doing it in private.

Make it clear that you share a goal with your superior

It can make things easier when you state right at the beginning that you only wish to disagree with your superior because you share their enthusiasm for the goal that they are working toward. When you put your attachment to the shared goal front and center, your disagreement usually sounds more acceptable.

Ask for permission

It can help disarm you superior if you ask for permission to lay out your reasoning for a conflicting point of view. When your superior chooses to opt in on their own, they can find your disagreement more acceptable. When you acknowledge their authority, you make it easier on yourself. All you need to do is to ask for permission, state your point of view, and not push to have your opinion accepted.

Disagreeing with a superior can be anxiety provoking. Usually, however, if you proceed with care and respect, there isn't much to worry about.

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Copyright December 3, 2020 by Rafael Maga?a. Contact for usage license.

Rafael Maga?a helps organizations grow. Helps leaders accelerate strategy implementation in their organizations. Specializes in donor-centered Philanthropy. Major Gift Officer -Veritus Scholar. Director of Development & Communications at the Emphysema Foundation of America and Breathe Southern California. Enjoys writing about leadership, management and careers. Founder of Latino Professionals, Latina Professionals, & Latinx Professionals. He resides in California. Follow Rafael on LinkedIn (18,180+ followers) and on Twitter: @RafaelMagana

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