Reduce Differences in Dealing with People
① What makes some people so easy to get along with and others so difficult? We think that conflict in a relationship happens when the focus is on the differences, rather than on the similarities. Think of it as "United we stand divided we can't stand each other".
② So bringing down differences is important to dealing with people you cannot stand. Success in communication depends on finding common ground, and then trying to lead the communication toward a new outcome.
③ An important communication skill will help you get along with others: blending. "Blending" refers to behavior by which you reduce the differences between yourself and another person. This skill is not new, of course; it is part of normal human contact. In fact, you already use it, to some extent.
④ You can blend with people in many ways. You may blend by changing your facial expression or degree of body movement to match that of the other person. You may also blend by trying to match the style and speed of the other person's speech And you may even blend with people by matching their ideas.
⑤ When peo ple feel you've listened to them and you understand them, that's the result of blending. It's natural to blend with people you like or with people you share a goal with. It's also natural not to blend with difficult people, but the result is serious. Without blending, the differences between you become the basis for conflict.
A. Results of blending and not blending
B. New outcome after blending
C. Different ways of blending
D. Definition of blending
E. Reducing differences
F. Reason for conflicts
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