Laurie Puhn knows just what to say. The Harvard lawyer, couples mediator and best-selling author of Fight Less, Love More: 5-Minute Conversations to Change Your Relationship without Blowing Up or Giving In, recently crafted a survey to gauge your communication IQ.
Do you know how to win people over by saying the right thing? Find out.
1. Your friend Mike has been looking for a new job as an
executive assistant for the past two months. He tells you that when
his last interviewer asked him why he is leaving his current job, he
explained that the work isn’t interesting. You think the answer makes
him look bad to an interviewer. Do you:
a. Say, “Mike, you shouldn’t say that in an interview. It leaves room for misinterpretation and makes you look bad.”
b. Ask, “Mike, would you like my opinion about how you might want to answer that question?”
c. Keep quiet, say nothing and let it go. You’ll just upset him.
2. Your colleague Joe tells you that Susan, another admin, put
together a fantastic presentation that morning. Later that day, you see
Susan in the office cafeteria. You:
a. Don’t say anything to her.
b. Say, “Hi, Susan, how are you doing?” You don’t want to be a gossip, so you avoid mentioning the presentation.
c. Say, “Hi, Susan, Joe told me that you put together a fantastic presentation this morning!”
3. You have plans with your friend Tom for dinner on Wednesday
night. The day before, you are talking to another friend, Steve, who
met Tom once. Steve asks you if you want to get together for dinner
Wednesday night. You:
a. Say, “I have dinner plans with my friend Tom for Wednesday night. Why don’t you join us?”
b. Make an excuse and say, “I have to work late tomorrow, so I can’t meet you for dinner.” You don’t want him to feel excluded.
c. Say, “I have plans tomorrow night. Let’s get together another night.”
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