| OM!, Tom Brokaw suggests that the 2008 Presidential | | | | statements to clarify that what you're saying is your |
| race may very well echo the election of 1968, with its | | | | personal opinion. |
| strong focus on the anti-war movement. Right now, | | | | 3. Listen closely to the response without planning a |
| with the Iowa caucus right around the corner, the | | | | rebuttal. Be empathic to another viewpoint and ask |
| political stakes are high. The war in Iraq - on the tip of | | | | questions for greater understanding of their position. |
| political tongues - generates polarized opinions and | | | | Try to step outside of your own shoes and look at the |
| sparks regular hard-edged exchanges. | | | | issue from a perspective that may be quite different |
| Accusations between the candidates proliferate - from | | | | from your own. |
| liberals who espouse a smaller carbon footprint yet fly | | | | 4. Sometimes you really do know what's best. So take |
| in private airplanes to conservatives who shield illegal | | | | a stand and hold your ground when the safety or well |
| immigrants in one way or another while in support of | | | | being of your elderly parents is at stake. Be patient as |
| immigration control. Both Democrats and Republicans | | | | they grow to appreciate your position and accept the |
| feel free to pull punches and none of the leading | | | | necessary changes in their lives, even if it’s |
| contenders are spared. Whether it's a smoke screen | | | | unpopular at the present time. |
| for campaign gaffes or talking points under the guise | | | | 5. In a conflict that is escalating, count slowly to 10 |
| of humor, these often don't seem funny. | | | | before reacting. If it looks like the discussion could raise |
| But our concern here is more personal to you - card | | | | your blood pressure or turn into an argument, walk |
| carrying members of the Sandwich Generation - | | | | away. Before saying something you may later regret, |
| squeezed between children growing up and parents | | | | take some time to calm yourself down – walk |
| growing older. What lessons can you learn from this | | | | around the block or breathe deep several times. But |
| political campaign about communication with your | | | | come back to the conversation later and work out a |
| family in flux? | | | | mutually agreeable solution, or at least some |
| We all know that words can hurt and an offhand | | | | compromise. |
| remark or slip of the tongue can be emotionally | | | | If political history is prologue, it seems as if it's human |
| damaging. If the World War II motto, "loose lips sink | | | | nature to defend oneself against attack. No matter |
| ships," has you suffering from the foot-in-mouth | | | | whether the presidential contenders are front runners |
| syndrome, add the following to your communication | | | | or second-tier hopefuls, there's no end to the |
| strategies: | | | | confrontations and sharp clashes. |
| 1. When addressing a sensitive subject, right off the | | | | Instead of immediately fighting back the next time |
| bat, state a specific goal that you want to accomplish. | | | | you're facing what could turn into a hostile front with |
| Be very direct and clear in what you have to say. | | | | your partner, take some time to reflect. In an ongoing |
| Don’t be side-tracked by pointing out your | | | | confrontation with an emerging adult child, like whether |
| partner's past oppositional behavior or questionable | | | | to extend her curfew, or with a parent, like giving up his |
| character traits. | | | | car keys, try a different approach. If you're feeling |
| 2. As body language and tone of voice really matter, | | | | particularly brave, discuss feelings you've been |
| assume a non-threatening stance in a conflict with | | | | harboring about an issue that requires an apology. |
| your teenager. Calibrate your emotions, monitor the | | | | Grow from these experiences as you take the |
| negatives and be very slow to criticize. Take some | | | | opportunity to turn negative feelings into more positive |
| responsibility for the situation by using "I-focused" | | | | ones, teach a life lesson or form a deeper connection. |