Part B: Subheading Matching (2021)
How to Disagree with Someone More Powerful than You
41. ___________________
You may decide it’s best to hold off on voicing your opinion. Maybe you haven’t finished thinking the problem through, or you want to get a clearer sense of what the group thinks. If you think other people are going to disagree, too, you might want to gather your army first. People can contribute experience or information to your thinking—all the things that would make the disagreement stronger or more valid. It’s also a good idea to delay the conversation if you are in a meeting or other public space. Discussing the issue in private will make the powerful person feel less threatened.
42. ___________________
Before you share your thoughts, think about what the powerful person cares about—it may be the credibility of their team or getting a project done on time. You’re more likely to be heard if you can connect your disagreement to a higher purpose. State it overtly, contextualizing your statements so that you’re seen not as a disagreeable subordinate but as a colleague who’s trying to advance a common objective. The discussion will then become more like a chess game than a boxing match.
43. ___________________
This step may sound overly deferential, but it’s a smart way to give the powerful person psychological safety and control. You can say something like, “I know we seem to be moving toward a first-quarter commitment here. I have reasons to think that won’t work. I’d like to lay out my reasoning. Would that be OK?” This gives the person a choice, allowing him to verbally opt in. And, assuming he says yes, it will make you feel more confident about voicing your disagreement.
44. ___________________
You might feel your heart racing or your face turning red, but do whatever you can to remain neutral in both your words and actions. When your body language communicates reluctance or anxiety, it undercuts the message. It sends a mixed message, and your counterpart gets to choose what signals to read. Deep breaths can help, as can speaking more slowly and deliberately. When we feel panicky, we tend to talk louder and faster. Simply slowing the pace and talking in an even tone helps calm the other person cool down and does the same for you. It also makes you seem confident, even if you aren’t.
45. ___________________
Emphasize that you’re only offering your opinion, not gospel truth. It may be a well-informed, well-researched opinion, but it’s still an opinion, so talk tentatively and slightly understate your confidence. Instead of saying, “If we set an end-of-quarter deadline, we’ll never make it,” say, “This is just my opinion, but I don’t see how we will make that deadline.” Having asserted your position (as a position, not as a fact), demonstrate equal curiosity about other views. Remind the person that this is your point of view, and then invite critique. Be open to hearing other opinions.
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全文翻译
你可能会决定最好是暂缓表达你的意见。也许你还没有彻底想清楚这个问题，或者你想更清楚地了解团队的想法。如果你认为其他人也会不同意，你可能想先集结你的力量。人们可以贡献经验或信息给你思路——所有那些会让反对意见更有力或更有依据的东西。如果你在一个会议或其他公共空间，延迟对话也是个好主意。私下讨论这个问题会让那位有权力的人感到不那么受威胁。
在你分享你的想法之前，想想那位有权力的人关心什么——可能是他们团队的声誉或按时完成一个项目。如果你能把你的不同意见与一个更高的目标联系起来，你就更有可能被倾听。明确地陈述这一点，把你的话放在情境中，这样你就不被视为一个不顺从的下属，而是一个试图推进共同目标的同事。这样讨论就会变得更像一盘棋局，而不是一场拳击比赛。
这一步听起来可能过于恭敬，但这是给有权力的人心理安全感和控制感的聪明方法。你可以这样说："我知道我们似乎在朝第一季度的承诺迈进。我有理由认为这行不通。我想阐述我的理由。可以吗？"这让对方有了选择，允许他口头同意参与。而且，假设他说可以，这会让你在表达不同意见时感到更有信心。
你可能会感到心跳加速或脸变红，但要尽你所能保持言语和行动的平静。当你的身体语言传达出犹豫或焦虑时，它会削弱你的信息。它发送一个混乱的信号，而对方可以选择解读哪些信号。深呼吸可以帮助，说话更慢、更谨慎也可以帮助。当我们感到恐慌时，我们倾向于更大声、更快地说话。简单地放慢节奏，用平稳的语调说话，有助于让对方冷静下来，对你也同样如此。这也会让你看起来自信，即使你并不自信。
强调你只是在提供你的观点，不是福音真理。这可能是一个有充分依据、深入研究的观点，但它仍然是一个观点，所以要试探性地说，略微降低你的自信程度。与其说"如果我们设定一个季度末的截止日期，我们绝对完不成"，不如说"这只是我个人的观点，但我看不出来我们怎样能完成那个截止日期。"在表明你的立场（作为一种立场，而不是事实）之后，对其他观点表现出同样的好奇心。提醒对方这是你的看法，然后邀请批评。要愿意听取其他意见。
答案解析 (Answers & Analysis)
41. 对应 [E] Decide whether to wait. (决定是否等待)
【定位】段落首句：“You may decide it’s best to hold off on voicing your opinion（你可能觉得推迟说出意见是最好的）”。末尾提到：“It’s also a good idea to delay the conversation（推迟谈话也是个好主意）”。“hold off”和“delay”均对应选项中的“wait”。
42. 对应 [D] Identify a shared goal. (确定共同目标)
【定位】段落核心句：“You’re more likely to be heard if you can connect your disagreement to a higher purpose（如果你能将分歧与更高的目的联系起来）”。随后提到：“...trying to advance a common objective（努力推进一个共同的目标）”。“purpose/objective”对应选项中的“goal”，“common”对应“shared”。
43. 对应 [F] Ask permission to disagree. (请求允许提出异议)
【定位】段落举例部分：“I’d like to lay out my reasoning. Would that be OK?（我想陈述我的理由。可以吗？）”。紧接着说：“This gives the person a choice, allowing him to verbally opt in（这给了对方选择权，让他口头上同意参与）”。“Would that be OK?”正是请求许可的表现。
44. 对应 [A] Stay calm. (保持冷静)
【定位】段落描写了心跳快、脸红等生理反应，建议“remain neutral（保持中立/平静）”。提到通过“Deep breaths（深呼吸）”和“talking in an even tone（用平稳语调说话）”来“helps calm the other person cool down and does the same for you”。“calm”是该段核心关键词。
45. 对应 [B] Stay humble. (保持谦逊)
【定位】段落强调意见不是“gospel truth（绝对真理）”，建议“talk tentatively（试探性地说）”并“understate your confidence（淡化你的自信）”。最后建议“invite critique（欢迎批评）”和“Be open to hearing other opinions”。这些都是“谦逊（humble）”的具体表现。