How Do You Get People With Opposing Views to Agree

How to answer this question

• 1Make sure each side actually understands the other's position before seeking agreement.
• 2Use structured listening — have each party articulate the other's view.
• 3Find shared goals and build the compromise from common ground.
• 4Avoid forcing compliance — focus on genuine alignment.
• 5Give a specific example with a measurable outcome.

Example answer

I start by making sure each side actually understands the other's position, not just their own. In a product roadmap debate between engineering and sales I ran a 45-minute session where each team had to present the other side's view back to them. It changed the tone immediately. Once people felt heard we found three areas of genuine agreement and built the compromise from there. Both teams left with something they wanted and no one felt steamrolled.