Expect disagreement in French problem-solving discussions—and do not interpret it as personal hostility. Vigorous debate is how the French test ideas. They believe that positions must survive challenge to be considered sound. Be prepared to defend your views with arguments and evidence, and be prepared to have those arguments examined critically.
This dialectical engagement is not combat; it is collaboration in pursuit of better understanding. A proposal that no one challenges has not really been evaluated.
When you raise objections to others’ ideas, do so substantively, with reasoning. When others challenge your ideas, respond to the substance rather than taking offense. The goal is synthesis—a conclusion that incorporates valid points from different positions. Moving too quickly to agreement without exploring tensions may seem efficient but will not produce the rigorous thinking the French value.
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