Listen more than you argue and you’ll make half as many decisions you regret.

Arguing narrows what you can take in, because most of your attention goes to the reply you are building. Listening keeps the channel open long enough for the detail that changes everything, and that detail is usually late in what somebody says. Bad decisions are rarely made by people short on opinions. They are made by people who stopped collecting information early.

In your next real disagreement, wait until the other person is completely finished before you start forming an answer. It is uncomfortable and it works.