How do you manage when someone is
- Being defensive,
- Making up stories,
- Blaming the situation or other people,
- Displaying more emotion than the situation warrants…again, or
- Just avoiding and, in general,
- Not taking responsibility.
Don’t argue. They’ll entrench.
Don’t problem-solve. They’ll argue.
Instead, give them a gift. With what a friend calls “a pushing with empathy and care,” just name what you see, zip your lips, and wait for their response. Repeat as needed.
They’ll melt.