Smoothing
- Can be a diplomatic move that others appreciate.
- Takes some skill but can create an atmosphere of further discussion.
- May also mean you must constantly butter people up.
- Doesn’t move you forward to resolution.
- Can show a willingness to wait until all the facts are known.
- When you find you are wrong.
- To allow a better position to be heard, to learn, and to show your reasonableness.
- When issues are more important to others than to yourself.
- To satisfy others and maintain cooperation.
- To build social credits for later issues.
- To maintain loss when you are outmatched and losing.
- When harmony and stability are especially important.