People sometimes go over the top. They confront and accuse others in a disrespectful or uncomfortable way.
Once the other party has crossed the line or continues along an unpleasant path, it is time to end the conversation.
NOW.
Failure to do so can escalate the conflict and embroil leaders in a nasty exchange. Once it’s time to conclude, good leaders firmly close the door.
Even though they often have every right to respond in kind or to be impolite when they end the conversation, good leaders do so as positively as they can.
They take the high ground and don’t prolong the conflict by reacting. Instead, they use a specific expression to seal the deal and move on, whether face-to-face, by phone, or by text.
One expression lends itself to this situation and provides a fast escape while maintaining a positive ending: “Have a great day!”
Concluding an exchange with “Have a great day!” creates a clear ending and allows for an abrupt ending that doesn’t inflame the situation.
Once said, it is essential for the communicator to hang up, walk away, or refrain from the next response. In meetings, this means directing eye contact elsewhere and exiting the room.
The expression “Have a great day!” clearly signals that the conversation or exchange has come to an end. It doesn’t provoke a response, nor does it invite a reaction.
Instead, it closes the door to anything that might follow and allows for a graceful escape. Most importantly, it instantly de-escalates the situation.
By firmly ending the conversation and signaling that the speaker or writer is uninterested in continuing the exchange, the conflict is now considered concluded without the possibility of further damage.
The calm control of an abrupt ending with a statement like “Have a great day!” neutralizes the negativity and prevents more inflammatory comments from being traded.
Setting boundaries is a cornerstone for all good relationships. Good leaders pre-decide that once a hostile party crosses a boundary in a conversation, the best course of action is to withdraw.
“Have a great day” helps leaders extract themselves from a belligerent party that desires to inflame through insults, accusations, and offensive language.
Disarming hostility by abruptly ending the conversation is typically the right choice. The failure to do so when things go too far can make for an unhappy day for both parties.
Wish others a great day instead.
