7 ways to instantly turn a potential argument into a respectful, productive conversation

When we installed a new furnace in a rental property, the city’s mechanical inspector told me it didn’t pass code due to how the natural gas line was run. I started to argue—I know the code—but challenging building inspectors is often counterproductive, whether on the current project or the next. Plus, I’m conflict-averse. Fortunately, I remembered an approach Amanda Ripley calls “productive conflict” in her book High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out: Instead of arguing, I...