Diplomacy is one of the most underrated skills of our day.
To individuals who see the world through a lens of conflict and domination, diplomacy is viewed as weakness or lack of conviction.
They tend to only acknowledge the latter part of Teddy Roosevelt’s admonition to “walk softly and carry a big stick.”
It’s tempting to think of diplomacy strictly in terms of how governments officially interact with one another but there’s great need for it on a personal level.
A person who practices diplomacy in his or her interactions with others will be far more successful at building bridges than one who doesn’t.
It’s not about shining people on and flattering them into agreement.
Diplomacy is the art of valuing others regardless of whether they see eye to eye with us.
For instance, if we have a complaint with a neighbor, is it better to take the dispute public and bring as much attention to it as possible?
Or, might we first seek to handle it privately and in person?
The diplomatic approach is a lot less likely to produce deeper division and more conflict.
It allows us to see and treat others as something more than a one dimensional caricature that we must vanquish.
We can be firm in our convictions and our principles without being overbearing or domineering to those who differ.
When we use tact and diplomacy, we are choosing to operate from a position of strength rather than weakness.
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