Pour oil on the troubled waters. Try helping the other party regain their control and mental balance, and get them to listen.

Sometimes past habits can get in our way, or in the way of the other party. Do you have any examples you can think of? Have you ever tried to discuss issues with anybody who just won’t discuss or negotiate, who responds, “Whatever you decide is all right with me?” We can carry past desires to give in, to please, or to respond with aggression and anger, into our conflict situations.

Have you ever encountered skepticism when you were trying to win people to your way of thinking? For example, when you are from a government agency, skepticism is apt to be high, perhaps based on past experiences or just the general perception about government as a bureaucracy.