Managing emotions
Strong emotions
Prepare by writing and rehearsing
Some meetings can be emotionally challenging. When a person feels strongly about something, emotions can unexpectedly rise to the surface when they try to speak. This is normal.
Different things might trigger an emotional response. Talking about a particular issue may be upsetting or frustrating. Meeting in an unfamiliar place or meeting new people can also make people uncomfortable.
In a meeting, participants should respect that people have different ways of expressing themselves, and that emotional responses are normal. People feeling strong emotions should be respected and given time to express their view in a way that suits them.
Managing emotions: In practice
To make it easier to understand your own emotions and to communicate effectively, these strategies might be useful:
- Practise what you intend to say with a trusted person before the meeting, so you know how it might feel to express yourself.
- Write what you want to say and take it to the meeting so it can be read by someone else if you have difficulty expressing yourself.
- Take an associate (a partner, friend, support person or advocate) to the meeting to support you in expressing your views.
- Ask for a break if you need to, so that you can remain calm and communicate effectively.
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