If you haven't quite yet experienced a conflict where you and another person are having a discussion, that somehow ends up a full-blown debate and the two of you have completely opposing opinions, I can assure you that at one point in time during your lifetime, you will. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
We cannot control the situations around us, but one thing we have complete control over is the way we react to these situations. In any sort of conflict, there is a wide open opportunity to end on a negative note. Our reaction to the situation and to the other person's response in a dialogue have everything to do with how the situation will result.
When we converse with one another, we send and receive messages. We use both verbal and body language to communicate, relying heavily on our tones and movement. If the mood becomes lighter and the conversation becomes more comfortable, people tend to move more comfortably and soften their tones. When a conversation becomes tense and two people begin to disagree, voices can escalate and body language can become more closed off and tones can become aggressive.
And this is where we need to think about how we react to situations.
When we get flustered and don't see eye to eye with someone, we tend to become easily agitated. If you react too quickly you can create an even deeper conflict, stepping further away from a solution.
When a disagreement comes about, before you rush to defend your side and try to convince the other person you're right, remember that there is absolutely nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree. Remember that there is nothing wrong with two opposing views or opinions.
We tend to gravitate toward a quick solution; we forget the reason the problem came about in the first place. In an argument, it often becomes one opinion versus the other until one person caves to a side. It is almost never an option to agree to disagree.
Now, you may think that this is avoiding a conclusion, but it isn't at all. It is allowing both individuals to have opposing views, respectfully. We need to accept each other's differences, even when we might not agree.
Communication is most effective when two people can respect each other's opinions and beliefs. Don't listen only to reply. Listen to consider and understand, and know that there is nothing wrong with having two separate opinions. It can happen without anyone feeling disrespected.
In any situation, consider your reaction.