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Leadership Attack Responses: 5 Smart Effective Options

Leaders, when you are verbally attacked, how do you respond? Do you see your response options or automatically attack back?

Always attacking back paints you as a harsh, insecure, one dimensional leader. Go deeper and further with these diverse leadership attack responses.

Leadership Attack Responses: Smart Effective Options. Image by Matthewf01 via Flickr.

Image by Matthewf01 via Flickr Creative Commons License.

5 Smart Effective Leadership Attack Responses

1. Critical thought based response. Great leaders think before they respond. Either quick thinking or longer analysis — they see the picture more clearly.




2. Questioning/Listening. Great leaders often respond with questions. It puts the burden back on the attacker to think through their position. Leadership attack responses don’t always have to be statements.




3. Awakening others. A series of “what if” questions is very persuasive. It catches the attackers off guard with conditions they hadn’t considered. Include this powerful option on your list of leadership attack responses.




4. Silence/Pause. A silent pause can shift the power balance toward you. When considering your leadership attack responses, consider the power of the pause.




5. Negotiation. Great leaders never see negotiation as capitulation. When your list of leadership attack responses includes negotiation, you tap the power of collaboration.

Benefits to leaders of using different leadership attack responses:

• Less predictable when you don’t always punch back. You are less likely to be manipulated.
• Increased inner strength. Controlling your trigger reactions increases self-confidence. Your emotional intelligence soars and shines.
• Strong image vs. vindictive and harsh. Anyone can be vindictive. Strength is the standout. It builds tremendous respect.
• Far more effective. Wiser responses to each situation breed greater success. Using the same response to each situation fuels failure.

Always punching back pushes people away from you. It screams “I’m afraid” not “I’m powerful.” Great leaders don’t need to push people away. They can lead anyone far and near!

Related Posts:
Leadership Strength: 6 Reasons Leaders Are Harsh vs. Strong
7 Ways to Respond to Disrespect w/ Dignity
Leadership Hurdle: 5 Reasons People Are Drawn to Negativity
12 Reasons Leaders Communicate Poorly

©2016 Kate Nasser, CAS, Inc. Somerville, NJ. I appreciate your sharing the link to this post on your social streams. However, if you want to re-post or republish the content of this post, please email info@katenasser.com for permission and guidelines. Thank you for respecting intellectual capital.

Kate Nasser, The People Skills Coach™, delivers coaching, consulting, training, and keynotes on leading change, employee engagement, teamwork, and delivering the ultimate customer service. She turns interaction obstacles into interpersonal success. See this site for workshop outlines, keynote footage, and customer results.

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Tags: attack, communication, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, leaders, Leadership, negotiation, patience, people skills, response, smart