Conversation Is Worth The Risk

1.     Know your audience

        a.     Take them seriously

                 i.     Unless they give you reason otherwise

        b.     Distinguish between people and ideas

        c.     Remember the onlookers

2.     Have a safe space, but…

        a.     Get out of it

        b.     Be able to take criticism (fair or not)

3.     Know your purpose

        a.     Genuine conversation

                 i.     Start with a shock

                        1.     Helps filter out the riffraff

                        2.     Honestly engage with people who respond

                ii.     Ask questions

                        1.     Often helps diffuse aggressive encounters

                        2.     Builds relationships

                        3.     Where possible, find common ground

               iii.     Avoid fallacies and know how to identify them

                        1.     Appeal to emotion

                        2.     Ad hominem

        b.     Be willing to end without agreement and without a “winner”

4.     Stand firm in your convictions

        a.     Have courage to speak out

        b.     Be willing to be wrong

                 i.     Take correction

                 ii.     Take responsibility for error

5.     Continue the conversation offline

        a.     Not every disagreement or discussion has to be out in the open

        b.     Private conversations can be more effective