When an opinion comes my way, I can choose to say the words, “Let’s talk about that.” Especially when I am confronted with an opinion I disagree with, or when I just fell into a meeting with a highly vocal, opinionated person… and there are many!
A way to respectfully re-route the conversation may be something like, “I like the word _____ you used. Would you like my take on that?”
Many will talk on and on and on without a seeming glimmer of engaging others. (The author of the book The Sparrow wrote that those who go on and on and on ought to join the support group, On and On Anon!)
One of my colleagues, on long, boring drives that can easily make him sleepy, tunes into talk radio stations he disagrees with. He awakens from his slumber… he just doesn’t have anyone to talk to about it!
How do you redirect a conversation when it starts to feel one‑sided?
#CommunicationSkills #ActiveListening #Leadership #Conversations #EmotionalIntelligence