The Confident Communicator - How To Say "I disagree"

Disagreement is part of leadership especially in communication roles.

You see risks other people don’t see yet.

You’re responsible for how decisions land with the public, not just how they look in the room.

Here’s how to disagree with confidence and respect:

1. Affirm shared goals first.

“We both want this to be clear and well-received by residents…”

You’re on the same team, even if you see it differently.

2. Describe the risk, not the person.

Instead of: “That’s confusing,”

try: “If we phrase it this way, people might think X, which could lead to Y reaction.”

You’re evaluating impact, not attacking their idea.

3. Offer an alternative, not just a critique.

“One option is to keep this core message, but simplify the language here and add an example.”

You stay in problem-solving mode.

4. Know when to let the record show.

Sometimes the decision will go against your recommendation. When that happens: “I respect your decision. For the record, my professional recommendation is that we do X because of A, B, and C.”

You’ve done your job. You don’t have to carry the entire outcome alone.

Disagreement doesn’t make you difficult. It makes you a professional who takes your responsibility seriously.