These are the sentences I use when a conversation gets stressful.
- Tell me more -> It gives me a moment to hear them before I answer.
- Let's agree on 1 thing to move forward -> de-escalate the situation, discuss 1 thing we can both accept, then we move forward
- What's your suggestion? -> If they only say the plan is wrong, I want their idea too.
- How does success look like? -> A lot of the time we are fighting 2 different meanings of done. Expand it
- I want to understand your view on this -> Only when I mean it. People can tell if I am waiting for my turn.
- Let's find another time to meet again and solve this together -> fully de-escalate the situation, stop and come back later.