Do you listen to understand, or just to respond?
When emotions rise, we stop listening and start reacting.
The key is not to hide emotions,
but to stay calm and clear while expressing them.
🎯 Key Principles
- Respond, Don’t React – Take a pause before words
take over.
- Acknowledge Before You Argue – Validation reduces
tension faster than logic.
- Tone Transmits Trust – People hear your tone before
your words.
- Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast – Speaking slowly
keeps others regulated.
⚙️ Few Techniques
- The 3-Breath Rule
- Before replying, take three slow breaths.
- It resets the body’s stress response and allows
rational control.
- Acknowledge – Clarify – Express (ACE Model)
- Acknowledge emotions: “I can see this is important
to you.”
- Clarify facts: “Can you share what led to this?”
- Express your perspective calmly and briefly.
- Name the Emotion, Not the Person
- Instead of “You’re being aggressive,” say “This
feels intense — can we pause and reset?”
- Use Grounding Statements
- “Let’s take a moment.”
- “I want to understand this clearly.”
- “Let’s focus on solving, not blaming.”
- Reflective Listening
- Paraphrase what the other person says: “So what I
hear you saying is…”
- Helps people feel seen and de-escalates emotion
instantly.
🛠️ Tools
- Active Listening Template – Use reflection phrases
(“I understand…,” “It sounds like…”).
🌱 Closing Thought
“When emotions run high, your calm
presence becomes the message.
People don’t remember what you
said — they remember how you made them feel.”
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