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Conflict Provoking Comments & Criticism
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Written by Robert Bacal
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It's important to understand that conflict-provoking communication is communication that doesn't work very well...that's it...and that we all use it. Learn to identify conflict provoking comments and criticism. There are several ways to deal with an issue in the workplace. You can talk about the issue, or you can shift the conversation to the personal characteristics, motives, expertise, and conduct of the other person. When you make comments about a person's conduct, expertise, etc. (usually negative) you shift the situation to an attack/defend one, even if that isn't what you intended to do. Most person centred comments contain the word "YOU" as the subject, or prominent in the comment. Here are a few samples:
- "you aren't listening" (one of the best ways to get someone to really not listen)
- "can't you just be quiet for a minute?" Note that this isn't really a question but a tricky way of asking someone to shut up.
This is an excerpt from Conflict Prevention In The Workplace. For more samples of the above, or for more detailed help on workplace conflict, click here.
You can also learn more about communicating cooperatively by looking at a free preview of the Communicating Cooperatively In The Workplace helpcard. |
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Conflict Management 
