Navigating Conflict: A Turbo Thinker's© Guide to Courageous Communication in Election Season
As election season heats up, conflicts often arise in our conversations. As a credentialed coach specializing in high-achieving Turbo Thinkers©, I'd like to share some thoughts on how we can navigate these challenging communications.
First, we might consider one of our primary challenges: emotional regulation. As Turbo Thinkers©, we're a passionate bunch, feeling emotions with extra intensity. But awareness of how our unique brains work gives us power. What strategies do we have to manage our emotions? How can we notice when anger or fear gets triggered? What does that feel like in our bodies? Conversely, how does calm and confidence manifest physically?
Could mindfulness practices help us maintain composure? Might breathwork, engaging our five senses, or stepping outdoors for a moment be effective? What tools are already in our emotional regulation toolbox?
Next, one of our greatest strengths comes to mind: curiosity. We Turbo Thinkers© have naturally inquisitive minds! We delight in shaking off boredom, following our love of learning like an intellectual adventure. This curiosity drives us to ask questions with childlike wonder. How does that work? What happens when you combine things? Who said that? Why is that true? What else might be true? How else could we view this situation?
Combining emotional management with curiosity requires bravery. Yet, it's these courageous conversations that invite understanding. How might we show up with vulnerability and intellectual humility to ask questions and truly comprehend different viewpoints? By sharing our questions and curiosity, could we invite others to question their own perspectives as well?
In my experience, Turbo Thinkers© dislike nagging. In fact, I don't know anyone who enjoys nagging or being nagged. No one likes a lecture. But we all appreciate respect and compassion. How might we make use of our Turbo Thinker© powers during this election season?
Here is a personal anecdote that illustrates the power of courageous conversations:
My tropical Cuban mother was sent abroad to a snowy, Catholic boarding school at the age of 16, during Castro's revolution. She didn't know if she'd ever see her family again and had no news of them for over two years. Now living in rural Louisiana, she recently shared her experience of witnessing a dictator's rise to power with her neighbor, a local gentleman who had never lived in any other country. She was curious about his perspective on current politics given their different life experiences. A kind and courageous conversation ensued, in which mind-opening questions resulted in changes of opinion.
This story reminds us of the transformative power of curiosity and compassion in political discussions. As Turbo Thinkers© navigating this election season, we might consider how our natural curiosity and emotional intensity could foster understanding rather than division when conflicts arise. What questions could open minds and hearts, including our own, during challenging communications? How might safe spaces for these courageous conversations be created? How can you be truly brave?