1. Assume positive intention of the other person. Know that the other person is always trying to achieve something life affirming. Even if they go about it in ways that have a further impact on you. When someone does something I find challenging to receive, I find it incredibly helpful to ask myself ‘What are the very good reasons that so and so is doing this?’ This question validates the actions of the other person. This assumption helps us to genuinely consider the perspective of the other person, and possibly ‘step into their shoes’. This is about empathic understanding. 2. Name impact clearly I will encourage you to name impact in the following way: 1. Naming what happened – what the other person said or did. 2. Focus on the impact on you, (rather than focussing on the other person) 3. Focus on your values or what is important to you that wasn’t lived up to in the situation Eg, when I read this email, I felt hurt and angry because being included and hearing from everyone is so important to me. The reason this is helpful is that it focusses fully on you, what happened to you, the impact on you and on your values. If this gets heard, then you and your experience is validated. If,on the other hand, you spend your time saying that what the other person has done is wrong or outrageous or whatever, you spend your energy focussing on them. Your experience actually gets lost. I’m trying to give more space to your experiences. This is how reconciliation and healing can happen. 3. Hear impact without reacting I’ll often invite people to reflect back what they are hearing during a conflict support session. • I’m hearing you say that …. • Don’t follow it with .. but… (that undoes all your work of listening!) • Don’t follow it with your perspective immediately. • Check that this is accurate if necessary. This means the person speaking feels you are listening to them. If you want to receive similar articles around navigating what life thinks might help us grow, sign up here (I don’t bombard you).
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Authorby Ceri Buckmaster Archives
February 2023
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