How to Give an Opinion

Communicating Effectively

Say what you think in a detailed, straightforward manner. Provide as many relevant specifics as possible when you give an opinion. This will help to ensure that people fully understand your point of view. Focus on the who, what, when, and where of the situation to make a detailed statement of your opinion. For example, if you are expressing your opinion on a current event, you could say something like, “Closing the dog food factory in our city last month was unfair to the employees and they should each receive 6 months of pay from the company to help them with the transition.”

Provide the reasons for your point of view. Next, you will provide a reason or reasons to support your point of view. As you provide reasons, you should try to explain why you hold the opinion that you do. For example, why is it unfair to the employees that the dog food factory closed? You might provide reasons such as, “because they only found out 2 weeks in advance that the factory would be closing,” and “because there are no comparable jobs for them in this community, so many of them will have to move to find work.”

Give at least 1 example to back up each of your reasons. An example is a specific piece of evidence that backs up what you are saying. It helps to build your credibility and it may also help to further explain the reasons you are providing. For example, if you state that employees only had 2 weeks notice that the factory was closing, you might need to provide some proof that this is true, such as a Facebook post by 1 of the employees showing a dated letter from the company.

Restate your opinion to conclude. When you make your closing statement, you only need to state the opinion again to remind your audience what you think should happen. You can restate the opinion you gave exactly the same way, or you can word it slightly differently, but make sure the opinion you are expressing is the same. For example, you could say, “Employees of Dog Food Corp. should receive 6 months of transition pay since they were abruptly let go and this was unfair to them.”

Staying Calm Under Pressure

Take a deep breath and pause for a moment. Keeping your composure will help you to express your opinion in the most effective way possible. If you are rattled, then you might rush through it, stammer, or forget important points. Take a minute to breathe and compose yourself before you start talking. You can also do this if you become flustered in the middle of giving an opinion. To buy yourself some time in a formal situation, try saying, “Can you please repeat the question?” or “Hold on just a moment please while I take a sip of water and arrange my notes.”

Focus on speaking as clearly as possible. Make sure that you are speaking in an even tone, not yelling or changing the volume of your voice at random. You should also maintain eye contact with the person you are talking to or at least face in the direction of your audience to ensure that they can hear you well. If you are concerned about making yourself clear, you can always let the person or persons know that you are happy to answer their questions if anything was unclear about your statement. After you finish, try saying, "I'm happy to answer questions if anything was unclear."

Look for common ground. You may not sway everyone you give an opinion to. In fact, many people will be unwilling to see a point of view that differs from theirs. However, you can always look for common ground and this may help you to look for ways to collaborate with the other person, or at least get along with them! For example, if you and the other person do not see eye-to-eye about how the dog food factory’s employees should be compensated, you might at least agree that it was unfair and that someone should do something.

Be aware that your opinion might be rejected. There is no guarantee that whoever hears your opinion will accept it. In fact, if you are expressing an unpopular opinion, then someone is likely to reject it and even challenge you on what you say. Keep in mind that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Try to be respectful and assert yourself if someone challenges you. For example, if someone says they disagree with your opinion, you can acknowledge them and assert yourself by saying, “I understand why you might think that the employees of Dog Food Corp. might have known the factory was closing, but I still think they should be compensated for the short notice.”

Knowing When to Share an Opinion

Speak your mind in professional settings where input is requested. Meetings at work or one-on-one sessions with a coworker or your boss might be appropriate times to give an opinion. Consider if the situation seems to invite giving an opinion, and if not, save it for another time. For example, if you are in a meeting with your boss and coworkers where the presenter has requested that everyone provide their input at the end, then it would be appropriate to provide your opinion in this type of situation. If you are in a meeting with your boss or a coworker and they ask you what you think, then it is also okay to provide your opinion.

Express an opinion in a public forum if permitted. Public community forums usually provide some time for audience members to speak their minds in response to the meeting’s purpose. You may help the officials who make decisions for your city to see the benefits of doing something differently if you speak up. For example, city council members may be swayed to vote 1 way or another depending on what is said in a public forum. You also might convince members of the audience to see things differently by giving your opinion.

Give your opinion in a debate when it is your turn to speak. A debate is a formal setting for expressing an opinion, and you will receive points for doing so more effectively than your opponent. Make sure that you wait until it is your turn to speak, and do not interrupt your opponent while they are speaking. In a debate setting, there will be a moderator who tells you when it is your turn to speak. Make sure to wait until they tell you it is your turn to start speaking.

Voice your opinion when friends and family invite it. It is common for friends and family to share their opinions on current events and other matters, but make sure that you do not give your opinion when it is not wanted. Pay attention to the person’s cues and the situation to determine when it is appropriate to share your opinion on something when speaking with friends and family. For example, if a friend or family member asks you, “Did you read about the dog food factory closing? Isn’t that crazy!?” then they are inviting you to provide an opinion. However, if a friend or family member says, “I just got laid off from my job at Dog Food Corp. I am so depressed,” now would not be a good time to give your opinion. Instead, say something like, “I’m so sorry! That’s terrible! Can I do anything to help?”

Avoid giving your opinion on personal matters. You may sometimes be tempted to share your opinion on other people’s personal problems, such as relationships, weight, habits, etc. However, these types of opinions are usually unwelcome, so it is best to keep them to yourself. Offer encouragement and support instead. For example, if your best friend has been struggling with her weight and diet, don’t say, “You should try a different diet plan. This one isn’t working for you.” Instead, try saying something like, “You’re doing such a good job! It just takes time. Don’t give up!”