The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

While they didn’t specify which of the 2 characters they were referring was me, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out which.

I have an incredible knack of saying things that come out the wrong way.

Or can be interpreted as coming out the wrong way.

But believe it or not, I never intentionally do that.

OK, I 96.3% of the time never intentionally do that.

I swear it’s because of my Dad …

He had an incredible array of techniques, questions and words to put people either on the back-foot or to get them to reveal their true agenda … so I think I got it off him.

Of course, he was a brilliant prosecutor and I’m an OK advertising planner … so what he did was not only part of his job, but something he was revered for how he did it, whereas mine is, errrrrm … not any of that.

That said, some of his techniques are things I have used for years.

For example, when someone say’s something I disagree with – rather than just say “can you help me understand what you’re actually trying to say” [which I also occasionally do, hence the cartoon], I simply repeat whatever they’ve said to me, but in a slow voice and an intonation at the end that makes it sound like a question.

You’d be amazed how often this makes the other person back down or rephrase what they said in much more palatable way.

And while I am still learning at how to be a better person, the one thing I can honestly say is that at least I’m asking questions to learn and understand rather than just make corporate small-talk.

God I hate that stuff.

The attempt to bond over mutual superficial bullshit.

It’s not schmoozing … at least there’s a purpose for that, it’s pandering.