Another strategy that I have found helpful (besides MoN's very good advice);
stop making STATEMENTS to those you are advocating with. Start
asking questions, instead.What do I mean by this? Let me add a few key samples of questions that I've actually used successfully, and then I'll explain why I think this strategy works.
- What do you mean by that?
- Can you explain _______?
- I'd like to know why you feel that way-- can you tell me what led to that conclusion?
- Why not? (as a genuine question, seeking an explanation-- not as a challenge)
This puts the burden of proof on the other person to prove that THEY are correct. Also, if you can school yourself emotionally to be polite but only professionally interested, as it were (and yes, this is VERY challenging), you can continue pressing with questions until the person realizes that their logic doesn't apply, or that their assumptions are incorrect. Only offer information
as it is asked for. So instead of OFFERING "my child's FSIQ is..." wait until you have heard a set of explanations, press gently with "What range of abilities would you say that you've seen?" and maybe even, "Can you be specific so that I understand better?" before placing your child's data into THEIR context-- rather than yours.
Secondarily, from a communications standpoint, it is 'softer' as an approach, and few authority figures like being "told" anything. Let them discover it instead-- you just have to ask the right questions to get them there.
