Tips for a Tricky Topic
- Know Your Audience
- Is Grandpa firmly set in his views? Or is he open to hearing new ideas? Understanding whether the person you’re speaking with is curious, uncertain, or defensive can help guide your approach.
- Shift Your Goal
- Think of each conversation as an opportunity to plant a seed of curiosity. It is unlikely that someone will change their perspective in a single exchange, but it is possible to create a bit of space to consider other perspectives.
- How can you create a learning environment, rather than a debate? Shift your focus from winning the conversation to fostering a thoughtful exchange.
- Connect on Shared Values
- Look for something you can agree with, no matter how small. No one wants to feel disrespected or dismissed.
- Even if someone expresses a belief or assumption you don’t agree with, is there a value, a concern, or a need behind it that you do? Highlighting that commonality can help pave the way for a more respectful and productive conversation.
- Answer Briefly and Factually
- Instead of getting drawn into a heated back-and-forth over misinformation, calmly correct inaccuracies with clear, fact-based information.
- Keep your response brief and pivot back to the larger conversation you want to have.
- Pivot to What’s Important
- After addressing the facts, steer the conversation toward what matters most to you: the values, the impact, and the real-world consequences of drug policies.
- Focus on what’s at stake and the changes that could lead to a more just and compassionate approach.
- Know When to Step Back
- Sometimes, the best way to ensure a conversation stays on track is knowing when to wrap things up. Remember, your goal is to plant a seed of curiosity and create a learning environment.
- Pause and revisit the discussion another time—especially if things have become unproductive.
Now, how about some of that pie?
