Influencing Others v/s Getting Influenced

I was called by one of my friend to help him in making his spouse to understand a perfect logical point of view. He said that he tried to make her understand to the best of his ability, still, she unable to appreciate his point of view or refuse to understand.

I knew her as intelligent and smart lady. I was also perplexed as to why she is unable to understand a very simple and logical perspective. I called her and tried to give background, reasoning and explain the point. It made her irritated and she almost yelled on me – “why you guys unnecessary repeating the same thing. I understand and know all this”. I managed myself and said – “I think misunderstanding is only at one point, we all are fine with everything else”. She sarcastically said – “I have no misunderstanding, it may at your end”. I was taken aback, but suddenly saw the possibility and said – “possible, it is at our end. Can you please help in make me understand your perspective and logic for refusing it”. And, what a pleasant surprise! She calmly explained her logic and perspective, because of what she was not agreeing to, otherwise looking very simple and logical argument. I understood her situation and found her points more logical than friend’s one.

This incident made me think.

In business situation also, more often than not, we spent lot of time in explaining our point of view, trying to influence others, trying to make others understand. However, perhaps, we spend very less time in understanding other’s perspective.

Many a times, it also happens that other person may unable to articulate or choose right words, that’s where we close our mind and brand other person as ‘argumentative’, ‘closed’, ‘illogical’ etc.

It is important to choose right words, articulate effectively with right tone, however, it is more important that we keep our mind open by empathizing other person’s limitations and give enough time.

What do you say?