Mental model · People
Positions and interests
Positions and interests: A position is what someone demands. An interest is what that demand serves. Positions conflict far more than interests do.
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A position is what someone demands. An interest is what that demand serves. Positions conflict far more than interests do.
Try it now
Take a disagreement. Write both positions, then ask "why?" of each until you have the interests underneath.
What to do with the answer
Look for an interest you share and build options that serve both sets before choosing between them.
Where it misleads
It needs the other side to be arguing in good faith. Against someone who is not, know your walk-away instead.
The module it belongs to
- Argumentation — Build and evaluate arguments
The book behind it
- Getting to yes — Its big ideas, in our own words.