Effective Confrontation

Everywhere we look, confrontations lead to misunderstanding and broken relationships.

Effective Confrontation is demonstrated by standing up for your rights or confronting someone when they have done something harmful or hurtful, and doing so in a way that achieves positive change with little or no damage to the relationship. When promises are broken, commitments missed, or you are treated rudely it is important to find a way to hold the other person accountable and to express your feelings by giving effective feedback. Effective Confrontation can help to restore harmony and balance in your relationships and to avoid future problems caused by the buildup of unresolved conflict.

If any of these behaviors are true of you or associates with whom you work, you’ll find action tips at EQDashboard.com:

  • Complains or gossips about others rather than dealing honestly and directly with them
  • Avoids confrontation, believing it will yield negative consequences
  • Remains silent when frustrated or angry
  • Challenges others in ways that people find offensive, aggressive or unpleasant (for example, critical or contemptuous)
  • Waters down the message with too much explanation, rationalizing or softening of the message

    Action learning tips and learning assignments on the job are a click away at EQDashboard.com.

    You might also consider (a sampling of suggestions from www.EQDashboard.com):

    Fisher, Roger, William Ury, and Bruce Patton. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. New York: Penguin Books, 1991.

    Mckay, Matthew, Martha Davis, and Patrick Fanning. Messages: The Communication Skills Book, Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2009.

    Patterson, Kerry, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler. Crucial Confrontations: Tools for Resolving Broken Promises, Violated Expectations, and Bad Behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.

    Patterson, Kerry, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002.

    Stone, Douglas, Bruce Patton, Shiela Heen. Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most. New York: Penguin Books, 1999.

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