Arundhati Bhattacharya Quotes

I usually tell people upfront what to expect, and that I really want their feedback and their ideas, and if they think I've got a hair out of place or food stuck in my teeth, gosh, I want to know that.

For any relationship to survive, one needs excellent communication.

My wife and I have built trust with our children and have always had open communication.

If I had a row with my husband, it's not going to work my saying, 'Right, if you don't do what I want, I'm going to walk out.' It doesn't work on any level. What you do is you go in and you say, 'I have a problem. You have a problem. Let's try and sort this out together.' You don't come to an agreement with people who you're falling out with badly.

Listening is something as elected officials, as leaders, we forget to do.

It's a very important thing to learn to talk to people you disagree with.

We can't always agree on everything.

Silence is one of the great arts of conversation.

Whenever I've encountered a Christian saying, 'Why don't you stop talking like that so I can hear you?' I think, 'Well you're the one putting the earmuffs on, but I wish you could hear me because I like you.'

A good conversationalist is not one who remembers what was said, but says what someone wants to remember.

We're losing social skills, the human interaction skills, how to read a person's mood, to read their body language, how to be patient until the moment is right to make or press a point. Too much exclusive use of electronic information dehumanises what is a very, very important part of community life and living together.

The more we can get together and talk about various perspectives, feelings, beliefs, the better.

Let us agree here today to adopt among ourselves a simple and unwritten rule. We will not rise to criticize someone else's idea unless we are prepared to offer an alternative idea of our own.

When you explain to people what you're trying to do, as opposed to just making demands or delegating tasks, you can build instant trust, even if it's just for that short time you're on the phone.

Genuine dialogue, not rhetorical bomb-throwing, leads to progress.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

I prefer more to kind of show people different things than tell them 'oh, here's what you should believe' and, over time, you can build up a rapport with your audience.

Sometimes there is a greater lack of communication in facile talking than in silence.

Hold on. It’s not a fight. It’s a discussion.

The Duffers can be super articulate or very straight to the point. I was really impressed with how they were with each other.

If you want to influence people, you want them to accept your suggestions, you don't say, 'You don't know how to use the English language,' or 'How could you make that argument?' It will be welcomed much more if you have a gentle touch than if you are aggressive.

It's important to really listen to the other person and have them feel like they're heard, to make sure the relationship feels equal.

It's hard to argue with a coach who says, 'I just want you to work.' What can you say to that without making a fool of yourself?

Negotiation is empathy. It's almost trite to say that if you can't put yourself in the seat of the other person you're speaking with, you're not going to do well. It's not about being a bully, not about making offers people can't refuse.

If your first objective in the negotiation, instead of making your argument, is to hear the other side out, that's the only way you can quiet the voice in the other guy's mind. But most people don't do that.