From my library of lessons I have learned the hard way.
Managing confrontation when you know there is no common ground, even with people close to you, can be problematic and must be done delicately.
At the moment in a confrontational conversation when you know that nothing will be gained, neither one of you understands the other, it’s time to get away from that conversation. Ask yourself, “What are you there for?”
If you’re not there to move forward, together, then leave that conversation.
Knowing how to prepare for a confrontational conversation is necessary for good relationships, because it’s really an investment in the relationship – you’re willing to bring something up that’s important to you and you want the relationship to grow.
Sometimes there are things you want to say to someone; things that you’ve been holding onto. So, in general, try to do this: Slow down and wait, for the right time. If there’s something you want to say to someone, something you want them to know, think through the conversation about what you want to cover and how you want to say it, and then you wait. Wait for the best time to say it, like when that person might bring it up. That’s when you can talk about it because they’re ready to hear what you might have to say.
When both people are ready for a difficult talk, the conversation will go better, and the relationship will grow.