Next Time You Get In An Argument With Somebody…
Summary
- When someone says something hurtful, you might want to respond with something mean, but this won't help the situation.
- Our goal should be to reduce the chance of them saying something mean again.
- If you respond with kindness or neutrality, it can decrease the likelihood of future negative comments.
- Think about your long-term goals instead of reacting with short-term emotions.
- Address problems by considering how your response can shape future interactions positively.
Video
How To Take Action
I would suggest implementing some simple yet effective strategies to manage challenging interactions. These are particularly useful for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in personal growth.
First, focus on responding with kindness or neutrality when someone says something hurtful. It might be tempting to snap back, but this only escalates the negativity. Instead, keep your response calm and composed. For example, if a customer criticizes your product rudely, you could say, "I appreciate your feedback, and I’d love to understand more about your concerns." This approach can defuse the situation and make it less likely for them to lash out again.
Second, think about your long-term goals rather than reacting based on your immediate emotions. If your goal is to build a strong customer relationship or maintain a harmonious team, consider how your responses can help shape future interactions. For instance, if a team member is consistently negative, addressing their behavior constructively can help. You might say, "I’ve noticed some concerns you've raised. Can we discuss how to address these in a way that helps everyone?"
Third, reflect on your interactions regularly and consider how you can improve them. After a tough conversation, take a moment to ask yourself what went well and what could be better. This reflection helps you build better strategies over time.
These strategies are low-cost and take little time but can have a high impact on your personal growth and business relationships. By staying mindful of your goals and responding positively, you can create a more supportive and productive environment.
Full Transcript
let's say you get into a snafu with someone they say something that hurts your feelings you might want to say something mean back but what we really want to do is decrease the likelihood that this occurs and so if you think about that as the frame of your objective your stated goal then if you say something mean back does that decrease the likelihood that they will say something mean to you no if I wanted to decrease the likelihood that they say something mean what would I do instead and so then you start solving the problem differently and so then what happens is you end up getting what you want but it might not be the way that you at first would immediately react