How To Make Your Point Without Making an Enemy
Good communication tools build back up levels of personal confidence that have been flattened by stress.
What’s UP: Today’s featured communication tool is used when a talk antagonist is trying to wear you down in order to make you agree with them. NOT fair.
Money Talks
Imagine you are having another talk with your partner who is critizing you about your fiscal irresponsibility. This is the 1,000th time you’ve heard the same refrain. This may be a good time for CommTool #1: “You’ve said that already!”
Here we go…one more time you hear your partner saying:
You’ve got to understand how I feel about your spending habits. I feel you’ve lost control and you’re going to spend us into the grave. You know money doesn’t grow on trees. You’ve GOT TO AGREE with me that you have a BIG problem with plastic. You win and get your way by busting the budget. You don’t think twice about the amount of money you’re spending!”
YOUR RESPONSE: “You’ve said that already!”
When someone tries to wear you down by making the same tired argument over and over and over again, try saying: “You’ve said that already…SO what’s your point?!”
Maybe something different might happen…maybe it won’t…but you will feel saner and stronger. Disallow anyone from wearing your down with their interrogative talk techniques meant to control you and y/our response.
Once last time: “You’ve said that already! We’ve gone over this before. SO what’s your point?”
Dr. Dennis O’Grady is the author of TALK TO ME: Communication moves to get along with anyone