The secret power of using ‘we’ in difficult conversations

Using “we” as a pronoun rather than “you” in conflict-laden interactions leads to others being more interested in interacting, researchers have found. (Image: Depositphotos)

The Wall Street Journal

Sun, 04 Aug 2024

By Heidi MitchellWhen you’re delivering a message that may upset another person, there’s one simple thing you can do to increase buy-in: use “we” instead of “you”.In a series of studies, researchers found that in conflict-laden interactions – such as employee reviews or political conversations – “the use of ‘you’ can make someone feel targeted and less likely to engage”, says Mohamed A. Hussein, an assistant professor of marketing at Columbia Business School in New York and...

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