BLT Manual

Facilitating Better Communication

Keys to Better Conversations

Features

Sentence Starters

Consider others thoughts and feelings Clarify the meaning of words and concepts Provide contextual information Identify false assumptions Use stories and analogies Open yourself to new ideas Suspend assumptions Commit to finding common ground Seek common denominators Avoid common dividers Use words that unite instead of divide Control your emotions Interrupt or cut off negative conversations before they begin Describe what’s going on so all parties can see it Clarify statements that aren’t true Move the conversation in a different direction Be honest and transparent Be reliable Show competence Be kind Be culture focused, instead of self-focused

"I’d love to hear your opinion on this. What are your thoughts?" "Let’s explore this together—what do you think is important to consider?" "I’m interested in your perspective. What do you see as the key issues here?"

Foster Dialogue

"We seem to have similar goals. How can we align our efforts?" "Where do you think we overlap in our thinking? Can we build on that?" "It looks like we both care about the same outcome. How do we get there together?" "I understand this is frustrating, but let’s focus on finding a solution." "Let’s take a moment to calm down and see how we can resolve this constructively." "I know this is challenging, but we’ll get further if we keep things respectful." "I want to be transparent with you— how can I support your needs here?" "Let’s ensure we’re both on the same side. What can we do to build our trust?" "I’m committed to making this work. What do you need from me to feel confident?"

Find Common Ground

Redirect Toxic Words & Emotions

Build Trust