Tactfulness means being diplomatic and skillful in dealing with people and situations. I strengthen it by being considerate of others’ feelings and responding to disagreements judiciously, seeking solutions that offend no one. The opposite is tactlessness.§
Comparing the actions of one who is tactful to one who is tactless§ |
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|---|---|---|
Situation§ |
Tactfulness§ |
Tactlessness§ |
Your younger siblings quarrel and cannot settle their dispute, so you…§ |
sit down with them next day and show each how the other is looking at the issue.§ |
take the side of the oldest one, disregarding how the other will be offended by your approach.§ |
When a team member makes a stupid comment at the morning meeting, you…§ |
subtly change the topic and draw the attention of the group to a positive subject.§ |
make a nasty remark to let her know how dumb she is and move on.§ |
Your boss criticizes you in front of your peers, so you…§ |
tell him you will do better, even though you did nothing wrong.§ |
decide to get even, and start badmouthing him in the staff break room.§ |
Gurudeva explained: “Diplomacy, a kind of love—one not wanting to hurt one’s fellow man, suppression of the emotions of hate and anger—brings about a kind of harmony. These are products of the intellect which when developed into a strong intellectual sheath is able to control the baser emotions through controlled memory, controlled reason and controlled willpower, the three faculties of our ability to govern forces of nature.”§
“…be tactful in what you say, and say it always with a smile…”§
ASSIGNMENT: For two weeks, whenever you encounter a situation where a group has a diversity of opinions on what to do, don’t take sides. Instead, encourage the discussion to explore ways of encompassing everyone’s ideas.§
Date you began this assignment ____________________§
MY THOUGHTS ON THE BENEFITS OF TACTFULNESS: 
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