|
Contact: Meryl Runion SpeakStrong, Inc. / Unite and Concur
Phone: 719-684-2633
FAX Number: 206-203-3614
Email Address: MerylRunion@speakstrong.com
Website URL: www.uniteandconcur.com
Three Ways NOT to Talk About Politics
at Parties, Work, or at Home
Advice for Obama, Clinton, and McCain supporters
from political communication author
5/21/2008
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Obama, McCain and Clinton supporters take heed
How does an Obama supporter get a Hillary supporter to vote for Obama should he become the declared nominee?
How does a Hillary supporter get an Obama supporter to respect her right to continue her campaign?
How does a McCain supporter join in the conversation in a reasonable way?
The answer is the same for all three. Use the principles of reasonable dialogue and avoid the three communication approaches that simply don’t work.
Are you a political prattler?
Most people discuss politics in ineffective, counterproductive and illogical ways, according to political eBook author Meryl Runion. Here’s a quick test to find out if you’re a political prattler.
You’re at a party, and someone makes a stupid political comment. Do you…
1) Call them an idiot and blame them for all the evils in the world?
2) Nod blankly, feign agreement and inwardly fall into despair about the futility of attempting sane political dialogue?
3) Fire back a sarcastic, clever comeback that they never saw coming?
If any of these approaches sound familiar to you, Unite and Concur author Meryl Runion suggests you probably haven’t changed many of people’s minds about politics.
You wouldn’t do this…would you?
Runion recommends evaluating the appropriateness of a political argument by asking yourself if you would use the same type of argument in a sales setting. For example:
You’re at the same party. You sell factory-built homes. Someone who’s considering building makes an inaccurate, hostile and/or stupid comment about factory-built homes. Do you:
1) Call them an idiot and blame them for your low sales totals?
2) Nod blankly, feign agreement and inwardly fall into despair about the futility of making your sales quotas?
3) Fire back a sarcastic, clever comeback that they never saw coming?
If you would, Runion observes that you probably aren’t effective in sales.
“Most people wouldn’t try to sell a product by attacking, shutting down or side-swiping, “Runion says. “Yet most people choose one of these three approaches when the ‘sale’ gets political.”
Three ways NOT to talk about politics
Runion’s eBook and her Unite and Concur blog advocate against the following three approaches to political discussions.
1) Aggression
While a quick attack may intimidate your political opposite and stun them into silence, aggressive arguments come at a price.
A) Aggression can win compliance but not agreement
B) “For every action there is an equal opposite reaction.” People usually find a way to “even the score” if they feel bullied.
C) Aggressives miss an opportunity to learn from and about other perspectives.
2) Passiveness
If you stay silent, you will avoid stepping on a landmine. However, passiveness also comes at a price.
A) You miss an opportunity to set the record straight
B) You are likely to feel resentment
C) The person spreading misinformation takes your silence as agreement.
D) Your silence makes you complicit.
E) Your unvoiced objection might build and erupt into aggression.
3) Passive-aggression
Passive-aggressive behavior is still aggression. It has the same effect as aggression.
How TO talk about politics at a party, work or home
No matter where you are, Runion explains, your best approach to discussing politics is to speak assertively. Runion defines assertiveness as: “saying what you mean and meaning what you say without being mean when you say it.”
“Most people assume that if you’re not speaking aggressively, you’re being passive.” Runion explains. “However, it is possible to be clear, direct AND kind.”
Here are some of Runion’s tips for effective political dialogue.
1) Unite and concur: think of yourselves as allies seeking truth together
2) Listen
3) Acknowledge
4) Ask about their sources
5) Ask their consent to differ
6) Say what you mean, and mean what you say, without being mean when you say it.
“The key to effective political communication is respect.” Runion concludes. “Respect them, respect yourself and respect the facts.”
“Sure, it would be tempting to roll your eyes and call them an idiot. And it would be easier to roll your eyes inwardly. It works much better to Unite and Concur.”
Meryl Runion is the author of five books on communication that have sold over a quarter of a million copies worldwide. Read about Unite and Concur. She makes the case for reasonable dialogue in her Get Strategic video. For media review copies or to interview Meryl Runion, call 719-684-2633 or visit UniteandConcur.com and click the contact link.
|
