GIVING THE BEST OPINION
Posted by Mike Foster: Is Van Halen the greatest rock band ever? Or is it Bon Jovi?
Is Kobe the best basketball player to ever play in the NBA?
Did the movie Inception get robbed at the Oscars?
Is Charlie Sheen…well you know how it goes.
All the noise. All the opinions. Tweets flying everywhere. Water cooler gossiping. Everybody wants to chime in.
So I thought I would give a few tips and ideas on how to give an opinion:
1. DETERMINE THE BEST FORMAT FOR YOUR OPINION Too many times we weigh on big topics with a Tweet when we should have picked up the phone or done it in person. If it's important to you, make sure you pick the best medium to present that opinion. And if it's highly personal…do it face to face…not on your Facebook wall.
2. HELP MOVE THE CONVERSATION FORWARD So often we are guilty of letting our opinion add to the divisiveness and slimy conversations that are taking place out there. I always try to ask myself am I helping steer the conversation towards something redemptive or is my opinion just going to add to the fire. An effective opinion helps reexamine the current collective wisdom that exists.
3. SOMETIMES YOU SHOULD JUST HOLD YOUR OPINION Not every single opinion you have matters or should be given. This is a hard one for a lot of us. There are certain topics I never weigh in on. Mostly because I really don't know what I'm talking about and it is completely out of my competency. Before you speak, ask yourself if you really need to add your 2 cents about it.
4. IF YOUR OPINION IS ABOUT SOMEBODY, SAY IT SOFTER. I love giving a strong opinion on whether I thought a certain blockbuster movie was totally lame. Or smack talk when my San Diego Chargers beat up on the Denver Broncos.
But when it comes to people directly, I take a different approach. And when I give my opinion about someone I try very hard to be as positive as possible. Their should be a difference in how you give your opinion about "someone" verses giving your opinion about "something."
5. PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, HAVE AN OPINION I'm not asking for you to be a doormat or give no opinion. I think we often think silence is more honorable then speaking up. We have this misconception that if you're a grace oriented person you just agree with everybody. You don't want to cause any problems and you want everyone to just get along.
There are things things in the world you should speak up about. You should be vocal about challenging hatred, judgment and abuse. Gladly give your opinion when an injustice is occuring. Don't be afraid to share what you believe. But just make sure you let points 1-4 guide you before you do.