William Hague Quotes

Diplomacy is listening to what the other guy needs. Preserving your own position, but listening to the other guy. You have to develop relationships with other people so when the tough times come, you can work together.

In any relationship, there's gonna be conflict.

Persuasiveness is really just about getting your ideas across without being forceful. It's a skill that can be learned and is useful for anyone who works in a team environment.

To be successful, you really have to put your ego in the background and try to be diplomatic to achieve what you want to achieve.

But I think that sensitivity is also a good counsellor when it comes to enforcing one's interests.

That's probably a problem for some people in this business, they don't like to listen.

I worked with a group of people who argued day and night - professors, officials, the Minister of Finance - but there were decisions that I had to make.

I learned firsthand that there would simply be no wars if people engaged in real conversation.

If two men on a job agree all the time, then one is useless. If they disagree all the time, then both are useless.

I think that people who have played sports have an ability to relate to people because when you're playing you have to work on teams and with opposing players.

I don't have the ability to find a middle ground with my audiences, and I know this too well.

I want to prove that you can get things done without having everyone dislike you – ie acting like a politician.

The more people talk directly to each other, the better. Dialogue is the way of solving issues.

There is always competition for influence, but there are also opportunities for cooperation.

What I've learned - after working for, I guess, some time now - is when you're approaching a relationship like that, like, any working relationship, it's good to be open. To know that someone might have a different way of doing things and listen to them. And hopefully, you come to a common understanding.

You can disagree with someone and still do business as a professional.

I don't think that confrontation always leads to a solution.

Two men can talk on the phone and maybe not agree on everything but at least respect each other.

If you are willing to listen and if you are willing to sit around the table, sometimes especially with the people who you think you disagree with the most, it is still really possible to get things done.

The best way to minimize disagreement is to make sure that all the stakeholders are in the room.

Interactions - whether personal or business, teacher-student, friend to friend, or family member - all call for balance, respect, and compassion.

All of you, leave," Vlad responded curtly. "That's not nice," I mumbled. "You should talk to them before you bite them, too. Common curtesy.

I'm a very friendly person, and I think that's had a big impact on my work because I tend to be pretty good with not trying to always win every argument and things like that. I just sort of try to bring a lot of people together to talk.

I know that speaking with parties, which I do, but not very often, is seen by many as a 'contamination.'

It's a very important thing to learn to talk to people you disagree with.