Just seek to be understood, but know you do not have to convince the other person you are “right”. Now that you have listened to the other person and they feel you understand them, you can then begin to share your point of view. Listen and understand, but you do not necessarily have to agree with them. Remember that fact and it will help you go a long way in keeping conversations out of emotional escalation. Just because you are able to listen long enough to really understand a person’s perspective on an issue does not mean you agree with them. An important point to remember is that understanding does not mean agreement. Seek to understand their point of view first. Let the other person complete their story or explain their point of view before you speak. Learn this habit, and you will go a long way in improving communication in all of your relationships: parents, significant others, children, friends, enemies, co-workers. “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” This is habit #5 in Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
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However, it is often difficult to avoid discussing the important issues that face our society including politics and other issues that tend to create emotional reactions. That is usually good advice to avoid getting into heated, emotional debates that often escalate into uncomfortable situations.