People who avoid all criticism fail. It’s destructive criticism we need to avoid, not criticism in all forms. Similarly, there is no progress without eustress, and the more eustress we can create or apply to our lives, the soon we can actualize our dreams. The trick is telling the two apart. – Tim Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek
All of us have stress in our lives. How much of it is self-imposed? Heck, a lot. Where does stress in the workplace and business arise? Who knows, it is probably the seemingly innumerable deadlines and projects that tend to pile on the average person’s desk. At the same time, while we all need to relax a little, sometimes the opportunity to do so seems slim.
Thus, brings confrontation. When people are noticeably stressed, it wears on others. While confrontation is often annoying and sometimes outright frustrating, sometimes it can be a good thing. A lot of the time people beat around the bush, willy nilly around and the issue at hand doesn’t get resolved or drags on and on.
While I am not an expert on confrontation, and strive towards not getting involved in such often, I do believe there is a time and a place. As well, I believe there are a few rules of conduct to remember when faced with a confrontation.
- Listen – Let the other person speak. Don’t be thinking of an in-your-face slap it to ya rebuttal. But also, don’t shrivel up in the corner and get stampeded on. Do stand up for what you believe or know to be right but do so in a ‘diplomatic’ fashion.
- Honesty – Be honest and transparent. This is particularly important when you are dissatisfied with the other view or how you are being treated. Tell what is bothering you, or why you feel the way you do. (Just shy away from whining)
- Find something you both (or all if more than two) can at least agree on. Base some of the time discussing it to assist in deescalating the situation.
There are more, and better, bullet points that experts could come up with, particularly considering not every confrontation is ever going to be the same situation, however the above points have suited me well during these not so giddy moments. I will be honest with you though, I often think that confrontation, when handled the best to your ability can be positive in the end. Especially if both can come to some form of mutual agreement in the end.
Question: How do you deal with confrontation in life and business?
(Photo credit: e³°°°)