76 Reduce the Differences
What makes some people so easy to relate to and others so difficult? We argue that conflict in a relationship occurs when the emphasis is on the differences, rather than on the similarities. Think of it as “United we stand, divided we can’t stand each other.”
So reducing differences is essential to dealing with people you can’t stand. Success in communication depends on finding common ground and then trying to redirect the interaction toward a new outcome.
Two essential communication skills will help you reduce differences: blending and redirecting. “Blending” refers to behavior by which you reduce the differences between yourself and another person. “Redirecting” is any behavior by which you use a growing rapport to ...
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