Question

Ed decided he had to say something. He thought about saying, "Barry, you're ruining my life with all the work assignments." Instead, he said, "Barry, lately I've felt overworked and wondered if we could talk about my work assignments". What principle of holding a difficult conversation is most at play here?

a. avoiding exaggeration
b. assuming the best in others
c. staying calm and overcoming noise
d. finding common ground
e. avoiding either/or approaches

Answer 1

Ed employed the principle of avoiding exaggeration to have a constructive conversation with Barry by inviting dialogue and avoiding blame. The correct answer is option a.

Step-by-step explanation:

The principle most at play when Ed chose how to approach Barry about feeling overworked is avoiding exaggeration. By reframing his feelings into a statement that invites dialogue rather than accusation, Ed avoided inflaming the situation and instead opened the door for a constructive conversation. It is essential to choose words carefully to convey one's feelings without assigning blame. The tactics used by Ed reflect the approach of using softening language and expressing personal feelings to engage in a difficult conversation without escalating the conflict.