Question

According to your text, what should you do when you want to respond non-defensively to criticism?

1) Seek more information and agree with the critic
2) Ask for specifics, guess about specifics, and paraphrase the speaker's ideas
3) Make sure to use tangential, impersonal and incongruous responses
4) Be extra aware of escalatory conflict spirals

Answer 1

When responding non-defensively to criticism, it is important to stay calm, listen to the other person's perspective, ask open-ended questions, restate what you heard, focus on problem-solving, and seek support if needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

When you want to respond non-defensively to criticism, there are several steps you can take:

1. Stay calm and choose your words carefully: Avoid inflaming the situation by remaining calm and choosing your words carefully.
2. Listen to the other side of the story: Take the time to listen to the other person's perspective and understand their point of view.
3. Ask open-ended questions: Instead of stating your case, try asking open-ended questions to learn more about the other person's position.
4. Restate what you heard: To avoid misunderstandings, restate what you heard the person say to let them know you were listening.
5. Focus on problem-solving: Instead of blaming the other person, focus on finding a solution to the problem.
6. Seek support if needed: If you're unable to resolve the conflict, consider speaking with your supervisor or HR department.