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Strategy: Use humor (with care)

Purpose/goal:
Minimize the sting of your disapproval. Phrase your concern in a way that the offending person will be able to hear it without getting defensive.

Examples:

  • Situation #1
    A teammate makes an off-color joke (e.g. involving an offensive stereotype) at a project meeting.

    Response: “I’d be looking putting on your body armor if I were you. You may find yourself on the receiving end of some pointed barbs after that remark.”
  • Situation #4
    You hear a fan at an athletic event make a cruel remark about someone on the opposing team, who seemed to overhear it.

    Response: “Actually she looks pretty tough, and you might want to start to look for the exits if she and some of her teammates start heading in this direction.”

 

Strategy List | Situation List

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