Responding to Disclaimers

Video Transcript

"Now let's talk about being on the other end of the disclaimer. When someone says a disclaimer to you and you respond to that disclaimer, it's real important that you acknowledge what the person said in their disclaimer. Let's say, if I said to you, "I know you're going to think I'm crazy, but..." The person that I'm speaking to should then respond back with, "I'm not going to think you're crazy," or "I know you think I'm going to think you're crazy." Alright. Another example might be if someone said something to me, I could, using a disclaimer, maybe they say, "You're going to think I'm a, you, you think I'm a sexist. I'm not, you're going to think I'm a sexist." I can say, in my response, "I don't think you're a sexist, but I disagree with what you're saying." See, basically we're playing nice. We're softening the blow, we are clearing up the air on perceptions. Well, I could be thinking in my head, 'Well, she's probably is thinking this about me'. You don't want to go there as a communicator, you want to put it right out on the table. "I bet you think I'm a sexist." "No, I don't think you're a sexist, but I disagree with..." see, this removes you, the person and the problem."