Become a Samurai of Conflict Communication

All Contact Professionals training/needing to be experts in conflict communication (aka: de-escalation) should immediately notice the validity of all these 6 points (attributed to Morihei Ueshiba). If you don’t, then you’re likely only familiar with less-than-complete, check-the-box type trainings that attempt to boil things down to a few simplistic techniques. Conflict communication has its own well-developed philosophy. There is no simple technique that enables us … Continue reading Become a Samurai of Conflict Communication

Taking Things Too Personally

Hi All, See this quote by Robert Greene: In our own inner turmoil, we tend the exaggerate the negative intentions of our opponents. In general, we take conflicts far too personally. ~ Robert Greene In life, such as the workplace, it is often the case that people presume the worst intentions of others and thus contribute to their very own hostile work environment (in their … Continue reading Taking Things Too Personally

Respect at all Times

Hi All, Contact Professionals familiar with the teachings of Verbal Judo should immediately reflect on George Thompson’s great teaching on this point and the difference between respect and RE-spect. If you’re not familiar with it, go here for a perennial classic. If you actually follow the discipline of Verbal Judo, then you know that there are, literally, no times in life when you’re not showing … Continue reading Respect at all Times

A Downstream Addiction is keeping America’s Active Assailant/Shooter Phenomenon Untouched

Americans are traumatized by the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. As we should be. Take a look at Tess Mata. She is one of the victims of this tragedy. Take a good look at her. Note the innocence shining through her sweet smile. Sit with her in your imagination. Now ask yourself, “What can I do to help?” I propose for your consideration that … Continue reading A Downstream Addiction is keeping America’s Active Assailant/Shooter Phenomenon Untouched

Morgan Freeman on Conflict Communication (aka: De-Escalation)

Hi All, Not much needs to be said in words by me here. Simply read this post’s pic wherein Morgan Freeman outlines major principles of conflict communication, aka de-escalation. This highlights the fact that conflict communication (popularly known as de-escalation) is as much psychology as it is anything else. Conflict communication is not simply a grab-bag of disparate techniques! Don’t ever minimize the value of … Continue reading Morgan Freeman on Conflict Communication (aka: De-Escalation)

Incivility in Healthcare is here to stay: Knowing this, let’s get busy facing it

Greetings, See this brief article that highlights the challenges in healthcare with incivility, aggression, and violence from patients and visitors. It was shared and highlighted on LinkedIn by some of my Healthcare Security Leadership colleagues. COVID and the associated stress (e.g., surrounding tightened visitor restrictions) have certainly added to incivility, aggression, and violence coming into our hospitals. And yet, incivility, aggression, and violence were indeed … Continue reading Incivility in Healthcare is here to stay: Knowing this, let’s get busy facing it

Look Behind the Anger (and other emotions)

When dealing with others (loved ones, co-workers, customers, C Suite executives, absolutely anyone), it’s very useful, indeed vital, to see as they see. It doesn’t matter if you agree with them. It matters, however, that you strive to see matters as they see them. This is empathy. Don’t confuse empathy with sympathy (many people do); the two are different. When dealing with someone who is … Continue reading Look Behind the Anger (and other emotions)

For the Love of Humanity, Communicate Well

See this excellent post from Shane Parrish. His thoughts and observations are highly recommended for all who wish to explore things off the beaten path. When we communicate with another person, and we disagree with them, particularly about some sensitive and/or emotion-provoking subject, we may be inclined to then label the person as “stupid,” “ignorant,” “backward,” etc. We then mentally exile them and view them … Continue reading For the Love of Humanity, Communicate Well

Smile to Create Safety

There’s nothing quite as unprofessional and banal as the Law Enforcement Officer, Police Officer, Public Safety Official, Healthcare Security Officer, Security Officer, or other Contact Professional who (wrongly) presumes that a stern outer appearance is an effective way to greet others. It’s not. A stern outer facial expression, often accompanied by an unfriendly, overly-directive tone of voice, and accompanying, unfriendly, body language is not helpful. … Continue reading Smile to Create Safety

It’s All about the People

Regardless of profession – and ESPECIALLY for the disciplines of Policing, Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Healthcare Security, Security, and other Contact Professional disciplines – if you do not understand people well (with an eye toward leaving them better than you found them and not simply “controlling” them), then you’re an amateur. You need to step aside and let Professionals take the reigns, for we have … Continue reading It’s All about the People