Tag Archives: Arguing

How to handle an Angry Person

Here is a link to an article written by Jacques Werth, the founder and President of High Probability Selling™.

Jacques has been my teacher and mentor for many years now and I ‘m fortunate to be associated with him.

Enjoy.

Angry People

Posted in Communication | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Jockey and the Elephant

As humans we have two driving forces, they are:

  1. Mind
  2. Heart

Let’s liken the mind to a jockey and the heart to an elephant. As long as the elephant wants to go where the jockey wants to go, there is harmony within the human. However, when the elephant becomes rogue, looses control, gets sidetracked, or flies off the handle, the jockey must go along for the ride.

According to Forrest Gump, life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what’s going to happen next. However, if the elephant is trained and obeys the jockey, all the chocolates are the square caramel ones.

Posted in Communication, Family | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Parent’s Pain Priority Plan

Parenting is a shuffling act when things go well, but when life backs up like bad plumbing, even chaos is a welcomed friend. What each parent needs is a Parenting plan that prioritizes what will inevitably come – pain. Pain me now or pain me later. The one certain aspect of parenting is that you will have pain.

It’s 25 minutes past bed time and your 8 year-old-crumb-crunchin’ piece of energy gets out of bed and taps you on the shoulder as you finally settle down to watch your favorite TV program.

Decision time: pain avoidance or pain priority.

Posted in Communication, Family | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Art of Giving and Receiving Criticism

Years ago I sat through an exciting series of classes by Dr. John Lund, an expert on family relationships and effective communication. Here is an excerpt from my notes. You can also find more information in his book “How To Hug A Porcupine”

THE ART OF GIVING CRITICISM

Dr. J. Lund’s Quick Check Guide

STEP ONE:

Before you speak ask yourself two questions:

  • Is the Criticism a part of my stewardship or my business?
  • Is the Criticism not only true, but is it necessary?

STEP TWO:

Posted in Communication, Family | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 Things Parents Should Never Do…Part 2

Three Things Parents Should Never Do When Communicating with Teenagers

Part 2: Never Justify

There are three things a parent should avoid when communicating with their precious minds full of mush (teenagers).

  1. Never seek agreement
  2. Never justify
  3. Never blame

One definition for justify is to fill a space evenly or form a straight edge. To align with a true line.

Have you ever been late to a meeting? Remember the thoughts going through your mind as you exceeded the speed the limit in an attempt to make up for poor planning? Every slow vehicle is registered as a cause for tardiness.

Posted in Communication, Family | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Ineffective Communication is Expensive and Causes Stress

Ineffective Communication is Expensive and Causes Stress

There are 550 million working days lost each year because of absenteeism. Experts claim that stress is responsible for half of those days. Stress attacks the immune system, elevates your blood pressure, and directly affects health costs.

Of all the maladies and symptoms going on in the work place, employers and managers give stress the shortest shrift. Stressed employees avoid coming to work, they avoid confrontation, they cannot resolve conflict and as a result progress is halted. They become contentious.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asserts that a full 80 percent of our medical expenditures are now stress-related.

Posted in Communication, Family | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Puppy Dogs and Men

During a conversation with my wife the other day, Cheri commented that men are just like puppy dogs. Since I’m not fully comfortable being compared to the four-legged animal kingdom, I asked for clarification. She smiled and explained: “Dogs are pleasers. They want their masters to be happy.”

She’s right. I am a pleaser. I don’t like it when my wife is angry with me. I want to make her happy and I don’t like the doghouse. I prefer my wife’s bed, just like my dog.

Posted in Communication, Family | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment