Dishing with Diplomacy... is really an art, perhaps a lost one. It's easy to get a little torqued when someone pisses in your cheerios. Who hasn't lost their cool about something at some time or another? It's always challenging to carefully craft your responses to provocations in the heat of the moment.
I admit, I haven't always been successful in crafting my responses in pressure cooker situations, but I've always tried to be a diplomat. When I choose the battles that are worth fighting, I'm always mindful of the potential outcome, good or bad. It's the risk I take when I've made the decision to firmly plant my heels in the ground on an issue. Fortunately for me, my battles are few. Most of life's daily aggravations can be swept under the carpet for another time... or perhaps never to be dealt with at all (i.e. sweeping with diplomacy).
What happens when you're feeling backed in a corner? When a situation raises its ugly head, it's often our egotistical personalities that get in the way... creating an opportunity for diplomacy to ride in on a white horse. There are several responses you can choose to deal with those ugly heads... You can be silent (which doesn't always work), you can come out swinging (which isn't always preferred), or you can dish with diplomacy (a nice alternative to violence). We often think of diplomacy when referring to heads of state. Wikipedia defines it as... the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups. As you can see, diplomacy is a highly coveted attribute, which can be beneficial in business and personal relationships alike.
Diplomacy isn't for weenies, or for the faint of heart. How do we exemplify diplomacy while expressing our strong opinions or beliefs? Sometimes it's best to bite our tongue (not literally, of course). Sometimes we must be the 'bigger person' by going the extra mile with consideration. And sometimes it's prudent to hold back our snarky smirk or the sarcasim we'd like to spew on our opponent. Dishing with diplomacy can be an opportunity for creating a win-win scenario. Only you know how far you're willing to go to create a win for both sides. Sometimes, a mutual win simply isn't possible, and that's okay too!
So, the next time your tea kettle starts to boil over and you feel like spouting off, consider how you might dish with diplomacy. Remember to brace yourself for impact after digging in your heels on an issue (if you choose to fight a battle). Do everything within your power to minimize damages. Create good boundaries to prevent further disputes. And leave the rest to the diplomatic gods... with no regrets!
Comments(57)