I’ve been thinking a lot about our communication skills lately and, overall, I believe that we do a pretty poor job. It’s amazing how our initial response to someone sends the conversation in a positive or, more likely, negative direction. That leads me to one of my favorite proverbs (15:1), “A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
How often do we respond to someone in less than ideal circumstances by saying – or writing – something that is not well thought out and lands on that that person the wrong way? It usually gets worse from there. My counsel, then, is for us to always strive to think before we speak and to give “gentle” answers rather than responding rashly. It takes discipline but I believe it will pay significant dividends. Why not give it a try?