by Listening is a genuine skill to help build stronger relationships and build deeper connections. Use your validation skills to let the other person know that they are truly heard and understood.
What if we really do not agree with the other person? — Still use the same skills. It is not important to agree with the other person. You can still validate . . . and possibly learn something in the process. Stay calm and maintain an attitude of curiosity and really try to understand the other person’s perspective and how they arrived at their conclusions. This does absolutely nothing to weaken your argument or to discount your position. Listening to someone with different opinions from your own and truly understanding them bridges the gap and builds stronger relationships and mutual understanding.