Make Your Language Powerful

10/02/2007

Do what you feel in your heart to be right.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Dr. Wolf Rink, writing in Work & Family Life (April 2005; www.workandfamilylife.com), offers these suggestions for achieving “win-win” outcomes...

Try increasing cooperation by asking Are you willing to…?
To increase accountability, try asking Can I count on you to…?
To avoid justification, give an example such as I found it works to...
To deflect hostility, express empathy. Say I understand your point of view.
To diffuse conflict, use “I” language. Instead of “You’re wrong,” say I disagree.
To communicate with precision, do a reality test. Say What I heard you say is…
To increase understanding, try asking What is it specifically that you don’t understand?

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