Why Your Career Stalls: The Hidden Difference Between Explaining and Arguing
Most professionals think growth comes from working harder or bringing more solutions. But the real shift happens when you stop focusing on what you think, and start influencing what others think.
Let me share a secret with you that not many people talk about. For many, this will define their career’s future.
You’ve been growing in your career, and without realizing it, the growth eventually starts to slow down and even halt. Why?
Let’s take a step back and look at the definition of two very important words that explain the “why”: Explanation vs. Argument.
In a business setting, explanation is simply revealing what’s in your mind. It is about what you think. Argument, on the other hand, is about changing what other people think. This crucial difference is where many people lose big time.
There are many reasons for this. Some cultures frown upon confrontation. Some cultures are more leader-oriented. Depending on your background, some people are more rule-followers than rule-changers.
Regardless of the reasons, which are ultimately meaningless for results, what matters is not “why,” but “what now.”
Examples
Example of explanation:
“The service is working this way, and it hasn’t been performing well. I don’t like this service either. It has been hard to maintain.”