BelatedAdvice
I can’t believe that after 15 years of marriage I’m still discovering fundamental ways to successfully communicate with the Boss. Came across a big one recently. A couple months ago we got into a few disagreements where I felt she was cutting me off and not letting me speak. Here’s an example: Her: “I think
With the exception of this blog, I approach giving people advice the same way I’d approach kissing a girl: only when I think it’s welcome and after I’ve verbally asked for permission. Pretty sure the Boss would frown on that analogy, but I’m going with it. This one is really simple. If someone tells you
These are two phrases you never want to start a sentence with. Here they are with an example. “You always blame me.” “You never help clean up.” People rarely “always” or “never” do something. If you claim someone “always” does something bad, you discount the times when that’s not true, when they’ve done the right
In a conflict, I’ve found cursing makes a bad situation worse. There is a big emotional difference between “Why do you always have to do that?” and “what do you always have to f****ng do that?” Curse words are harsh. They can be hateful. They add a nasty edge onto whatever you’re saying. Better to
It’s a simple fact of human nature: when we’re being yelled at, we don’t hear. To be yelled at is to be attacked. When attacked, we defend, shut down, or counter-attack. Yelling is not only ineffective for expressing a point, it makes the situation worse. You could be telling someone the location of a hidden treasure