Keeping a Job
Co-Worker Interactions

Teamwork - Agree to Disagree

Everyone has different ideas and opinions about how certain things should be done at work. No one can agree all of the time, and that is okay. You might not always agree with a co-worker’s ideas and opinions. Some co-workers might not agree with all of your ideas and opinions. No-one can have everything their way, all of the time. This can be difficult to accept sometimes.

When you disagree with a co-worker, it is important to remain calm and be respectful. Companies expect employees to be calm and polite, even when they have disagreements. They also expect employees to find a compromise when they disagree. A "compromise" is when people come to a partial agreement - they find a solution that both sides can accept, even if both sides are not 100% happy with the agreement.

What happens when you compromise?

Sometimes, your idea or opinion might be included in the plan.
Sometimes, your idea or opinion might not be included in the plan.
Sometimes, a part of your idea will be added to or blended with someone else’s idea.
Sometimes, a leader or supervisor has to make the final decision about what to do.

It is okay to express your disagreement with a co-worker. But, there are some appropriate and inappropriate ways to show your disagreement. When you show your disagreement in appropriate ways, all team members can still get along and work to achieve their shared goal. When you show your disagreement in inappropriate ways, then other team members will feel angry and disrespected. This will cause the team to break down (stop working effectively).