We’ve all been there: Someone says something disrespectful to you at work, and you simply freeze up. During these moments, it can be hard to think of a good response right away.
Minutes, hours, or days after the incident, you finally realize what you should have said, which can lead to even more frustration and regret.
It doesn’t have to be this way. As a communication coach, here’s my best advice for how to prepare for and navigate moments like these.
In football, quarterbacks will train for something called “off-platform throws,” developing their skills to deliver the ball accurately from any angle. Speakers can do the same.
There’s an exercise I give my students to help them learn how to speak calmly with intention, especially when someone is hurtful or disrespectful to them.
