German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and SPD Faction Leader Andrea Nahles attend a session of the SPD's Bundestag faction on the topic of recent developments in the asylum debate.

What is your first reaction when you encounter something you disagree with, whether at home or at work? Do you immediately run to your keyboard and start typing away? Do you feel the need to share your argument and explain your perspective? While you may not be able to affect the points of view of public figures and politicians, in the case of your boss, co-workers, colleagues, and loved ones, new research tells us that there is a proven and effective way to communicate your disagreements, and it's not by firing off emails. Follow the results of this research and others will be far more likely to understand and sympathize with your perspective.

What works — and what doesn't

In a study of almost 300 people, participants were asked to watch, listen to and read arguments about contentious topics, such as abortion, music and war. In each of these cases, participants were asked to judge the character of the communicator and the quality of their arguments. The result? Participants were less dismissive of and argumentative in response to video and audio versus written text. In the more “natural” forms of communication, participants were also less likely to dehumanize and belittle the cognitive abilities and moral attributes of the person they disagreed with. These findings tell us that we are more effective at communicating our ideas when face-to-face or voice-to-voice. These results and others have implications for all types of communication, including at the workplace.

The next time you're explaining or defending an idea to your boss or colleagues, use these two tips to make your argument heard and understood.

1. Know the counterarguments in advance

If you know why those who disagree with you believe what they do, use that knowledge to your advantage. Allow yourself to see things from their point of view. That will help you predict the arguments they will likely use. Once you have a sense of what to expect from the other person, you'll be able to plan your approach. Also, the more well-informed you are about both sides of the disagreement, the more credible you will become. By covering your bases and doing your prep work, you'll ensure that you will sound more reasonable, whether you have to present your argument in text or in person.

2. Meet face to face