Q. Whenever I disagree at a meeting, I feel that my team thinks I am just being difficult or arrogant by not accepting others' ideas. I am very confident with both my job and ideas, but am unsure on how to better present my ideas. Can you give me some pointers?

A. You should never be afraid to share your ideas, even if that means contradicting your team. Disagreeing with people is what brings better changes not only in the office, but everywhere. Here are a few ideas so that you don't stifle your creativity while trying to look out for others.

1. Never say, "You're wrong." While you may be thinking it in your head, avoid this phrase. Creative thinking is important to every meeting. A company hires different people to get a field of ideas, so it is important to not suppress the flow of ideas by creating tension in your team and blocking communication.

2. Facts and examples will increase your credibility. Having information to rely on will increase your confidence and win your team over. You can't make your team believe in your ideas until you are completely comfortable with them.

3. Look at each option in addition to your own. People aren't going to listen to your ideas if you don't first give them a chance. If you are hesitant about bringing up your idea, evaluate others' that have offered options before you. Figure out what you do not like about them and then see if your own idea offers a solution to the project.

4. It's OK if your idea isn't the best in the end. Compare and contrast your idea constructively with others. Listen and respect everyone's ideas equally. After all the brainstorming, do not feel bad if your idea was not the best of the bunch. Remember, your opinions helped the creative process.