Sit down or go for a walk but talk things through. Do it calmly and respectfully. It can be good to have the person that is speaking hold a small ball or pen and pass it to the other person when they would like to talk.
Have a clear purpose or outcome in mind and stay focused on it. Write down the final result and also note when your next discussion is and, if you can, what you’ll be discussing so you can both think about it in advance.
Enjoy!
It’s a nice way to spend some time. You get exercise and a chat. Excellent!
When in doubt, talk it out. Go into discussions with positive intent. Seek first to understand as Mr Covey would say. Before you comment, listen carefully to their words. Try not to interpret them. Take them at face value. Then try clarifying meanings with questions.
It is not easy at first and can be bumpy even for professionals. But know that you are looking to resolve the issue, not be right. Being wrong or unaware is fine if the other person comes with empathy and compassion.
Most arguments aren’t created because those two people enjoy arguing. It is often a miscommunication or misunderstanding due to different reference points, beliefs, values or ideas.
Talk it out. You’ll feel much better for it.
