We all know the frustration of leaving a disagreement feeling like the other person was not listening to you – closed off and unreceptive to the points you were making. But, perhaps we are not as open to different perspectives as we may believe.


Having built a career facilitating disagreements, Laura Botsford investigates how we can initiate conversations that might result in a change of opinion. Beginning with a look at the psychological factors that can close us off to new arguments, Laura introduces us to common biases and behaviours that appear in disagreements and offers techniques to combat them.


Laura Botsford is an innovation and service design expert with a career spanning academia, international development, healthcare and campaigning. Having navigated her fair share of difficult conversations, Laura is now investigating how we can shape conversations that inspire a change of opinion - particularly opinions which people hold to most strongly - and how we can apply that knowledge to tackle some of today’s most pertinent challenges. Laura is an award-winning innovator and service designer who has applied her Psychology background to challenges including fundraising, international development, political campaigns, and the design of healthcare services. Having gained a fledgling understanding of how to grab the public’s attention, Laura is now most interested in how to capitalise on that moment. Laura is investigating how to initiate conversations that can result in a change of opinion, particularly those heavily invested in, and how we can apply that knowledge to tackle some of today’s most pertinent challenges.
Laura studied a BSc in Psychology at Northumbria and retains an interest in decision making, reasoning and cognitive biases. She went on to take roles in innovation, fundraising and leading digital and design teams at an International Development NGO before branching into consulting. She now consults with non-profits and purpose-driven organisations working to make the world a better place. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx