Taking the “War” Out of Our Words with Nondefensive Communication

You’re sitting down to your desk to begin work at 8:10 a.m., when your co-worker looks at his watch and then over at you and asks: “Had a little too much fun last night?”

Ha, ha, you laugh. But inside, your story is going like this: Who does he think he is, Mr. Perfectly On Time Every Single Day? What’s wrong with being late one day? Jerk. He's always so critical.

Freeze frame.