8
One of the best ways to persuade others
is with your ears-by listening to them.
-DEAN RUSK
Explore Others'
Paths
How to Listen When Others
Blow Up or Clam Up
Over the past few months your daughter Wendy has started to
date a guy who looks like he's about ten minutes away from a
felony arrest. After only a few weeks of dating this fellow,
Wendy's clothing preference is now far too suggestive for your
taste, and she routinely punctuates her language with expletives.
When you carefully try to talk to her about these recent changes,
she shouts accusations and insults and then withdraws to her
room where she sulks for hours on end.
Now what? Should you do something given that you're not
the one going to silence or violence? When others clam up
(refusing to speak their minds) or blow up (communicating in a
way that is abusive and insulting), is there something you can do
tu get them to dialogue?