The Truth About Getting Your Point Across: ...And Nothing but the Truth

Truth 48Keep Stressful Meetings from Spontaneously Combusting

It was late afternoon on a sunny spring day. I was cleaning up a few last items before heading out for the day. Just then, an acquaintance I had met only a week earlier (I'll call him "Phil") knocked on my door, said hello, came into my office, closed the door, and sat down. I was a bit surprised, because I had planned on just saying hello and then hightailing it out of my office. For the next hour and a half, Phil poured out his heart about his job, his marriage, and his financial situation. He shifted between sadness, fear, and anger throughout our discussion. It was obvious that he was experiencing some major problems. I was caught flat-footed because I wasn't prepared to have ...