The #1 Rule of Political Conversation
In politics, as in medicine, first do no harm.
Hello everyone!
Here is your tip of the week PLUS two inspiring quotes and one image to download.
1 Smart Tip
To increase your political influence:
When someone says something politically outrageous, chances are your first impulse is to tell them exactly how wrong they are. That’s why responding instantly isn’t always the best approach.
Our responses in these moments can be constructive, destructive, or neutral. Responding constructively is ideal, but if we can’t, a neutral response is better than making things worse with a destructive reply.
That’s why the most important rule of political dialogue is to first do no harm.
The simplest way to know if the response you’re about to give is constructive, neutral, or destructive is how you’re feeling. If you’re feeling triggered--angry, scared, anxious--your response is likely to make the situation worse. If you’re feeling calm and curious, your response is likely to make the situation better. And if you’re feeling indifferent, your response is unlikely to have an effect one way or the other.
So, the next time someone says something outrageous, take your own temperature before responding. If you’re triggered, wait a bit until you are feeling calm and curious. Then, respond in a way that has the potential to make a positive difference.
2 Smart Quotes
“It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a hospital is that it do the sick no harm.”
--Florence Nightingale
“If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.”
--Dalai Lama
1 Smart Image
When I was first learning how to discuss politics with people who disagree with me, I posted an image of the Change Conversation Cycle in the upper right corner of my computer screen so I could refer to it in a pinch. (Even though I created the CCC, I’d still forget the steps in the heat of the moment!) You can do the same. Download this image and refer to it during your future challenging political conversations. It helps. Promise. (For more on what the CCC is and how to use it, check out this article.)
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Until next week,
Karin Tamerius