The Power of Gentleness

By Tasha M. Troy

In 2004, I began a new phase of my teaching career by joining the teaching staff at a multinational corporation based in South Korea.  Our students were mid-level managers and mid-career professionals, and I quickly learned a new set of classroom management strategies that incorporated respect for their positions and experience while still giving constructive feedback.  In 2010, the necessity for giving gentle and diplomatic instruction was intensified as I joined a program in the US teaching professional communication skills to naturalized US citizens.  Not only were these experienced professionals, but they had also been in the United States for several years and had developed sophisticated compensation strategies that led many of them to overestimate their English proficiency.  Several of these accomplished adults experienced an identity crisis when faced with the reality of their language weaknesses, and only a gentle approach could reach them.

One key to treating people with gentleness is having personal humility and vulnerability. Brené Brown, in her TED Talk ”The power of vulnerability,” describes how the people who are best able to connect with others have embraced vulnerability, have owned their imperfections, and have developed a humility that enables them to approach others with kindness and gentleness.  I would venture that true vulnerability is only possible through a deep trust in the love and acceptance we receive from God.  Once we have turned to God as our source of love, it becomes so much easier to treat others gently.

I believe another key to treating people gently is to understand the other’s perspective. In his book Getting More: How You Can Negotiate to Succeed in Work and Life, Professor Stuart Diamond describes how important it is to connect with people you are attempting to work with, not on the basis of cold reason but through truly understanding what is important to them.  He explains that when attempting to persuade someone, “you have to understand the pictures in their heads: their perceptions and feelings, how they view you and the rest of the world.” He encourages his students (and readers) to ask a lot of questions when they are dealing with people they would like to persuade.  He goes on to list fourteen elements of effective communication, most of which relate to showing the other side that you value and respect them.

Of course, not all communication is created equal.  In my classes, we spend some time talking about the value of “diplomatic language” – speaking in such a way as to soften statements and to express value for the other person through polite language.  The more tense the situation, the more “diplomatic” you need to be.  This is not so much about how you feel; you may be very upset, but raising your voice and using overly direct language will not enable you to connect with the other person.  However, “a gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1).

Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California defines gentleness as “strength under control” and describes eight benefits to developing gentleness in your life:

1. Gentleness defuses conflict, which I have mentioned above.
2. Gentleness disarms critics; someone looking for a strong reaction will be surprised by a gentle response.
3. Gentleness is persuasive, which I have mentioned above.
4. Gentleness is attractive; gentle people are pleasant to be around, and others enjoy spending time with them.
5. Gentleness communicates love; gentleness flows from humility and putting others first.
6. Gentleness earns respect, which again comes from personal humility.
7. Gentleness witnesses to unbelievers; consistently living an other-centered lifestyle is counter-cultural and only truly possible with God’s help.
8. Gentleness makes us like Jesus (Matthew 11:29).

If we want to connect with people with different perspectives, we must approach them with gentleness.  Otherwise, we risk coming across as harsh and judgmental.  I highly encourage you to begin practicing gentleness in all your communications.

Take It Deeper

If you would like to go deeper on this topic, I hold free exploratory coaching sessions on Fridays.  You can register online at Troy Communications or email me to schedule an appointment at TMTroy@TroyCommunications.Net

Links and Resources:

Basic components of effective communication:

1. always communicate
2. listen and ask questions
3. value, don’t blame them
4. summarize often
5. do role reversal
6. be dispassionate
7. articulate goals
8. be firm without damaging the relationship
9. look for small signals
10. discuss perceptual differences
11. find out how they make commitments
12. consult before deciding
13. focus on what you can control
14. avoid debating who is right

(Getting More Chapter 3).

Stuart Diamond speaking at Google about the concepts in his book Getting More.

5 Tips for Polite and Diplomatic Language

Saddleback Church:  The Strength of Gentleness

97 Bible verses about gentleness