The thoughts in this article are certainly pertinent but are one sided. When I tee-up a topic I am giving the person a chance to prepare to hear something I know they won’t like so they won’t react defensively without thinking. It acknowledges their feelings and their position from the get go and allows me to law out a counter-position with less confrontation. It also, in a different sort of conversation, expresses my remorse for being on the other side of an argument where the person is apparently expecting me to agree. Not remorse for what I believe but remorse that I am stepping apart by declaring my belief.
“I hear what you’re saying but....”
(One of my favorites)
When I tee-up a topic I am giving the person a chance to prepare to hear something I know they won’t like so they won’t react defensively without thinking.