If you\u2019ve ever negotiated your way out of a tricky situation or took part in a business transaction, you\u2019ve probably employed a certain level of tact as a means of achieving your objective.<\/p>\n
The Oxford Dictionary defines diplomacy as \u2018the art of dealing with people in a sensitive and tactful way\u2019. It enables its user to successfully manage relationships, especially with international contacts. Tact is defined as having a \u2018skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues\u2019, which undoubtedly is an essential component of your interpersonal skills toolkit. Tact and diplomacy are ancient bedfellows and should be exercised frequently for best results. Practice, practice and some more practice.<\/p>\n
An example of taking a diplomatic approach in a conversation could be as simple as saying \u2018I\u2019m afraid I don\u2019t really like it\u2019 as opposed to \u2018It\u2019s awful\u2019. Instead of attempting to clarify a misunderstanding by uttering \u2018You obviously don\u2019t understand\u2019 and choosing for \u2018Perhaps I\u2019m not making myself clear\u2019 could help bind the language gap between you and your counterpart without harming your relationship or inadvertently hurting their feelings.<\/p>\n
In English-speaking countries, the need to be polite and to use the correct expression is essential. Sometimes people misinterpret English politeness as a form of deceit or dishonesty. As with many things in life, we all have to manage a balance – in this case, between politeness and honesty. This balance does not have a singular definition and will be unique to each user while being dependent on many factors. The correct amount of politeness employed in a conversation could be, for instance, dependent upon a difference in rank, or the distance between you and your counterpart.<\/p>\n
On one hand, if you are always completely honest with people, you might risk being perceived as rude or deemed to have poor social skills. This could directly influence your social experiences and reduce your networking opportunities as a result. On the other hand, if you attempt to remain polite at all times you might be illustrating an inaccurate portrayal of yourself and therefore appear deceitful or insecure. This might lead others to believe that you lack confidence or have poor assertiveness skills and, undoubtedly, impede you from building a reputable profile in business.<\/p>\n
A common example of everyday communication occurs when an English speaker, being polite, says, \u2018How are you?\u2019 and the other person answers, \u2018Fine, thanks. And you?\u2019. The most common response to this latter question would be, \u2018Fine\u2019. The alternative response would be to say that you weren\u2019t \u2018fine\u2019, which would be perceived as an inappropriate choice in many cases, especially in business. Therefore, the use of tact is essential for everyday communication.<\/p>\n