In conflict, we’re already dealing with people who don’t understand us.  And that makes it easy to fall into what I call the “Repeating It Louder” trap. We all do it – if we just say it again, or say it louder, they have to understand us, because we’re right!

I say “repeating it louder” but I really just mean continuing to do anything that isn’t working. And I’m not saying that being persistent never gets results – of course it does! – but in communication, if something isn’t working now, it’s probably not going to work if you just do more of it.

So, what can you do when the other person just doesn’t understand what you’re trying to say?  Instead of repeating it louder, see if one of these tactics is more effective: