Agreement First

Before disagreeing, name something you genuinely agree with. "You're right that timeline matters — and here's how we can hit it." This activates cooperation before the friction starts, so the other person hears your counter-point as a build, not an attack.

Watch out for the fake-agreement trap. A grudging "You make a good point, but..." lands as a setup, not a concession — the word but erases everything before it. Make the agreement real and specific, then bridge with and. One honest sentence opens the door; a hollow one slams it.