What is quick-wittedness?
"Quick-wittedness doesn't mean hitting, but rather absorbing blows and redirecting them cleverly," says my colleague Greta Wonneberger. If we manage to use rhetorical skills in a level-headed way, conflicting conversations can become an exciting sport.
How can quick-wittedness be trained?
"There are various methods for training and improving your repartee," says Greta Wonneberger. Below, we present a method that you can use in everyday life to intercept attacks:
Example: Petra M. is regularly patronised by her boss. One of his attacks: "That's typical for you again - your head is always somewhere else".
What does Greta advise Petra M.?
- Time for facial expressions:
Take time to look at the attacker's face with interest. Then ask: "What situations are you thinking of?" - Use exclamation:
First respond with an exclamation like: "Oops!" or "Aha!". Only then comment, for example: "Somebody's excited." - Analyse behaviour:
Address the behaviour from a greater distance: "They get angry about this thing. And you're making a very fundamental problem out of it. We should sort that out."
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