Confrontation: The Necessary Evil

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Fremont: "All lives are filled with confrontations...how we handle those confrontations, determines the quality of our day and ultimately the quality of our lives." The working class has to confront various people every day, be it a nosey co-worker or the boss, they have to many a times be answerable for no fault of theirs. There might arise a situation, where the decision made by your boss would be downright lame and become a barrier to your working style. You might have to come across a very difficult boss who would not be ready to listen to anything you say, but since it directly affects your work, you have to deal with it. It has been found that employees try to quit their jobs, or even confrontations during recession, which leads them to leave the comfortable inside and face the harsh world outside. But does it mean that things work out smoothly for you? No. The pesky co-worker and the monster boss would still be around, regardless of the fact that you are trying your best to hang on to your job.

Companies look for people who can handle tough situations, which include such confrontations also. If a person is able to confront a difficult situation, they have learnt how to be honest and respectful at the same time. But the problem with confronting someone is that you feel you might end up offending the other person, which can be a very risky situation especially if the person is your superior.

If a person is able to handle confrontations smoothly, they are already masters in choosing and framing their words so as to get across to the other person, without hurting anyone's sentiments. In order to get your concern across, a person should start with genuine concern and politeness. Thank the person for the time that is being spared to you to talk about. One folly that many of us commit is that the moment we get a chance to speak out our mind, we start piling the other person with a list of anything and everything that is bothering us--which is not a good thing to do. Focus on the issue that is bothering you at the moment, and stick to the facts. You can pen in your suggestions as alternatives and at the end of the conversation you can thank the person for sparing his or her time to listen to your concern.

The person concerned should be ready to face emotional outbursts once in a while, especially in cases where something is hampering the personal lives of people. There are changes that a small matter can end up in arguments, which should be avoided at all times. Whatever be your position--at the giving end or the receiving end--try to maintain your poise and calm. If a person can reflect his ability to talk about sensitive issues--which might be very risky--in an effective way, he is already showing the traits of a successful person, as it is not always about getting things across to others, it's the way you put things across that matters more.