Chapter 1. Golden Rule 1: Be prepared
Those Boy Scouts are on to something. Being prepared for an argument is key to success. Sometimes arguments come out of the blue. But not always. It may be that you realize a difficult business meeting or conversation is going to take place, in which case being prepared is a real advantage.
What do you want?
Before starting an argument think carefully about what it is you are arguing about and what it is you want. This may sound obvious. But it’s crucially important. What do you really want from this argument? Do you want the other person just to understand your point of view? Or are you seeking a tangible result? If it’s a tangible result, you must ask yourself whether the result you have in mind is realistic ...
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