The Art of the Respectful Pushback

Lori Croy delivers the presentation "Mastering the Art of the Respectful Pushback" at the PRSA Public Affairs and Government Summit.

You're sitting in a meeting and another teammate or your boss misrepresents your contributions to a major project. The easy thing to do is to let it go, not make a big deal, and try not to be offended. But it keeps happening and, day by day, you feel more diminished, less respected, and don't know how to stop this downward spiral.

During a session at the recent PRSA Public Affairs and Government Summit, I shared some tips about giving respectful pushback in high-stakes moments, maintaining high standards, calm reactions, and clear boundaries.

One of the fundamentals is to prepare your personal "holding statement" so you're ready when something is disrespectful, a situation is escalating, and you have little time to make your personal response the differentiator between joining the chaos or adding a layer of calm and professionalism.

Every tough moment teaches people what you will tolerate. Remember these things:

• Composure is rarely accidental

• Rehearse difficult conversations BEFORE they happen

• Choose language you can remember under pressure

As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." If you're struggling to find ways to manage these types of situations, I can help.

Contact me at Lori.Croy@MentorPR.net to learn more about coaching and mentoring services and have your personal holding statement ready for the next time a situation escalates.