Timing

“I’m not trying to be mean, I’m just a blunt person.”

True, most people don’t try to be mean when delivering a hard truth, but that doesn’t make the comment any less hurtful.

Help your words be received by thinking of the right time and place.

Simon Sinek tells a story of attending a friend’s play to show his support. It was one of the worst he had ever seen, and after the show, his friend asked his opinion.

Rather than tell her how awful it was and steal her joy, he thought of a true compliment.

“It was great seeing you do what you love,” he said, because she wasn’t in a place to receive his constructive criticism.

A few days later he called her up and asked, “When would be a good time to give you some constructive criticism?”

Step in the other person’s shoes and ask yourself if it’s the right moment.