Practice lab · 8 min
Social Adaptability Lab
Same objective, different people: practise adjusting how you say something without changing what you stand for.
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Same objective, different people: practise adjusting how you say something without changing what you stand for.
Situations to practise on
- Asking for help
- You are stuck on something and need someone’s help.
- Sharing a decision people may not like
- You have made a decision that affects other people and some of them will not like it.
- Inviting someone to join something
- You want to invite someone to join a project, a group or an event.
The steps
- …with a close friend your own age
- …with someone much more senior or experienced than you
- …with someone younger or newer than you
- …with someone whose communication style or background differs from yours Don’t guess from a category. What would you notice or ask to find out how they like to talk?
- What stayed the same in all four? Usually your goal and your values stay; the words, pace and formality change.
Afterwards, ask yourself
Who in your life would you like to communicate with more easily — and what would you adjust?
Lessons behind this lab
- People differ — observe the individual — Categories give you a starting guess at most. The person in front of you corrects it. (6 min · Beginner)
- Different communication styles — Direct or indirect, fast or reflective — and personality tendencies without boxes. (7 min · Practising)
- Experience and professional position — Talking with people more senior, more junior, or from a different field. (6 min · Practising)
- Adapting without losing yourself — Flexing your style is respect; abandoning your values is something else. (6 min · Practising)