Modifiers

Sometime we qualify our statements -using terms like maybe, possibly, may, try, you may want to, etc. I hear and have experienced that’s one way of ensuring you are collaborative and inclusive.

While it surely does help us put challenging and risky propositions on the table less threateningly, does it have universal applicability? Should we be using modifiers irrespective of the situation.

Solutions are context specific- and so I believe is usage of modifiers.

A difficult conversation where the other party may not be on same page as you and you yourself may be wrong - is a situation where usage of modifiers help. Same will be true for a situation where you want to support the other person/party to move from one position to the other – and nature of task/relationship between both of you is not adversarial.

A context where usage of modifiers may not be relevant is in high stakes negotiations – you need to be clear in your communication – though I accept that timing matters a lot in negotiation- and so does power of silence J Any situation which requires direct communication might/will require a 'non-modifier' laden communication style.

So context is name of game – you need to know where to use modifiers and to what extent.

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Sourav