It’s human nature to take the path of either fight or flight when faced with perilous situations. On the most basic level, when attacked by let’s say a mountain lion, our basic instincts will tell us to choose between fight or flight. The same can be said for smaller scale confrontations, i.e. in the workplace. In a communication exchange, it’s common for one party to react defensively when confronted, spouting off responses (fight) before thinking it through. Another common exchange results in individuals shutting down completely (flight), avoiding the chance to communicate their thoughts or feelings. Fight or flight. But there is a third, more effective approach – learning to respond with patience, coherency, and empathy.
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