Introduction to Confrontational Conversations
When you are in a confrontational conversation be sure to remember the five golden rules.
- Iron clad statements and absolutes are not good ideas
- “I know“
- Always
- Never
- Won’t
- Conditional statements are more effective
- In my judgement
- I think
- In my opinion
- It is my belief
- The rule/policy indicates
- Avoid the use of slang. Slang indicates a loss of control.
- Use clear, simple, reasonable directives.
- Stop
- You
- Here
- There
- Emphasize the directive with a firm gesture.
- Threats are counter productive
- Identify the offensive behavior that needs to stop.
- State the penalty
- Enforce the penalty no matter what
You may also give some thought to your personal presence. There are some fields of thought which indicate that for every 10 pounds a person is overweight their presence or stature is reduced 10%. So, if two persons were of equal height and one was 40 pounds overweight that person would present a 40% less commanding figure than the leaner of the two.
