From the course: Nano Tips for Resolving Conflict with Shadé Zahrai

Replacing absolutes to foster constructive dialogue

From the course: Nano Tips for Resolving Conflict with Shadé Zahrai

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Replacing absolutes to foster constructive dialogue

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- You never do this, you always do that. Avoiding absolutes is key when it comes to diffusing conflict. Why? Because throwing around phrases like always or never is like lighting a match in a powder keg, it's going to escalate things and make the other person feel attacked. And when someone feels attacked, they're going to put up their guard and it's going to be tough to have a productive conversation. So instead of using absolutes, consider using I statements and more nuanced language. It's a simple change, but it can make a big impact and include what you'd like to see instead, for example rather than "You always make these mistakes," you could try, "I've noticed that there are some common errors that keep reoccurring and I'd like to discuss how we can avoid them." Rather than "You never listen to my feedback," try, "I feel that my feedback isn't being considered in our decision-making process and I'd like to understand the reason for that." Avoiding absolutes creates more constructive, open and respectful dialogue.

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