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The Coach: Conversations
on Leadership
An
eBook by
Guy
Harris
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Positive Principles Newsletter
July 2008
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Key Quotes:
“Be sincere; be brief; be seated.”
- Franklin
Roosevelt
“Argument is the worst sort of conversation.”
- Jonathan
Swift
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This month's tip – Seven Ways to
Improve Your Communication During a Conflict.
Recently, I read a report on what happens in our bodies when we perceive a
threat. Our adrenal glands flood our bodies with adrenaline as we prepare
to either fight or flee. In that moment, our intelligence diminishes, and
we revert to automatic rather than thoughtful behaviors.
Many conflicts begin with a perception of threat. As a result, we
experience a rush of adrenaline that lowers our intelligence so that we do
not communicate well during the conflict. With that wonderful thought in
mind, I offer these seven ways to improve your communication when you find
yourself in a conflict situation. Focus on these seven tips, and you will
more effectively communicate your way to a resolved conflict.
1. Focus on behaviors and not on your interpretations
The perception of threat that often creates the conflict
escalation cycle usually stems from how we view what other people do and
say. This view often comes from our interpretation of a behavior more than
it does from the behavior itself. For example, when someone speaks loudly
and directly, we may interpret their behaviors to indicate that they are
angry. Maybe they are. Maybe they are not. All we really know is that they
spoke loudly and directly. As you communicate with other people, focus on
and speak to their behaviors more than you speak to your interpretation of
their behaviors.
2. Avoid the use of “always” and “never”
When you comment on another person’s behavior, avoid these
two communication killers. Rarely does someone “always” or “never” do or
say anything. If you throw these two words into the conversation, you just
added fuel to the fire and helped to escalate rather than to resolve the
conflict.
3. Use “I” statements
At some point in the conflict conversation, you will
eventually need to address your interpretations of their behaviors. When
this time comes, phrase your interpretation in the form of an “I”
statement. Using the behavior mentioned above as an example, you could say
something like:
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“When you speak loudly, I feel like you are angry with me,”
instead of “Why are you so angry!”
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“When you speak that directly, I feel threatened,” instead
of “Why are you threatening me?”
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“When you raise your voice, I feel like I am backed into a
corner,” instead of “Quit backing me into a corner!”
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4. Say what you want rather than what you don’t want
If you would like for someone to change their behaviors
towards you, tell them what you would like to see rather than what you
don’t want to see. One principle of behavior is that we cannot not be
doing something. In other words, we are always doing something. When we
tell someone what not to do in a relationship, we fail to clarify what we
want to see instead. For example, you could say “When you speak to me,
please lower the volume,” rather than “Quit yelling at me!”
5. Beware of your non-verbal messages
Remember that the other person will respond negatively to
anything you do that they perceive negatively (aggressive, threatening,
dismissive, disrespectful, etc.). Calmly maintain steady eye-contact,
relaxed posture, and a calm voice tone and you will improve your
communication during conflict.
6. Apologize for your contribution
Conflicts rarely happen entirely because of one person’s
actions. If only unintentionally, you probably did something to frustrate
or irritate the other person in the moments just prior to or just after
the conflict began. Go ahead and apologize. It won’t harm you or diminish
you. On the contrary, it will probably strengthen your status with the
other person.
7. Give them a chance to speak
Remember this key point phrased the way I read Patrick
Lencioni write it – “people don’t need to get their way so much as they
need to be heard and understood.” If you will slow down long enough to
really listen to them, they will probably calm down enough to listen to
you. When people get a chance to say what is on their mind, they
experience what psychologists call catharsis (or cleansing). This
cleansing helps to lower emotional energy and pave the way for a more
productive dialogue.
So for now, I encourage you to remember these . . .
Seven Ways to Improve Your Communication During a
Conflict.
Have a great day,
Guy Harris
The Recovering Engineer
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