The Jefferson Fisher Podcast 3 Courtroom Tricks That Work in Everyday Conversations
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Aug 26, 2025 Transform your conversations with techniques drawn from the courtroom! Discover how switching 'buts' to 'ands' can foster cooperation instead of conflict. Learn to recognize when to step back and focus on what truly matters, saving your energy for meaningful discussions. Master the art of pacing and enunciation to ensure your words resonate clearly, turning tense exchanges into constructive dialogues. These practical tools will empower you to communicate with confidence, no matter the disagreement!
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Turn Buts Into Ands
- Replace "but" with "and" to avoid negating prior statements and keep dialogue constructive.
- Practice swapping buts for ands in emails and conversations to build bridges, not walls.
Courtroom Cross‑Examination Lesson
- Jefferson describes courtroom cross‑exams where using "but" makes witnesses clam up and put up walls.
- He contrasts that with using "and" which keeps people talking and sharing useful information.
Elevate To Shared Principles
- When a discussion heats up, stop debating nitty‑gritty details and elevate to broader shared values.
- Find any higher‑level agreement like "I agree that's worth talking about" to defuse defensiveness.
