I avoid conflict by thinking before I speak

I avoid conflict by thinking before I speak.

I use discretion in my daily conversations to protect myself from regretting something I have said. Words cannot be taken back; therefore I always work on thinking before speaking.

When I want to say something, I rehearse the words in my head to ensure I can communicate my ideas clearly.

I prepare what I want to say in advance, especially when speaking to a group of people. This prevents me from saying something that may be offensive to anyone in the group. And the more confident I am with my message, the stronger my communication will be.

By running the thoughts through my head before they exit my mouth, I save myself from potential embarrassment. I refrain from speaking without thinking by focusing first on listening and being slow to speak. There’s no hurry.

I manage my reputation by filtering my words. The way I speak says a lot about my abilities, leadership, and values. I must speak carefully if I want others to take me seriously.

I steer clear of harmful stereotypes about race, gender, and physical traits, so I can avoid sounding ignorant and offending anyone. In general, my rule of thumb is to keep quiet if I have nothing nice to say and to speak my mind only when I can do so thoughtfully.

If I ever mistakenly say something offensive, I am quick to express my apologies. I directly and personally address anyone I may have offended to ensure they know my intention was not to cause pain.

Today, I choose to think before I speak. I stop myself from uttering anything out loud that sounds inappropriate. I avoid offending others and having to perform damage control by being intentional about what I share.