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Softpanorama
(slightly skeptical)
Open Source Software Educational Society |
May the
source be with you,
but remember the KISS principle ;-)
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There is no reason to rush any reply when we talk with a corporate
psychopath. This is actually not a talk. It is a mixture of interrogation with
provocation and you need to be vigilant against dirty tricks. This five point
test permits to avoid the trivial errors. To get used to it you might wish to
assign each question to a finger and close fingers one by one as you check them.
- [Deflection test] Should be defect the question as inappropriate.
- [Pause test] Did you made a proper pause (10 seconds is minimum). In response
needed at all ? (silence is gold). If needed if can you ask to release the
question to ensure you understand it correctly and to have time to prepare
for the answer (Stanislavski used to say "the
greater the artists the greater the pause" ;-)
- [Negative politeness test] Is your response courtesies, and non-confrontational. Does
it contain sarcasm, "always/never" language or communicates your
emotional state ?
- [Factuality test] Are you trying to communicate the facts and only the facts?
Convey only one thought in each sentence
- [Information leakage test] Do you elaborate or volunteer sensitive information to the psychopath
Notes:
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native language. Some amount of grammar and spelling errors
should be expected.
- This is a Spartan WHYFF (We Help You For Free) site. It
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- The site contain some obsolete pages as it develops like a
living tree... Some links on older pages
are broken. Please
try to use Google, Open directory, etc. to find a replacement link
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Extended list
A helpful tip that simplifies communication with corporate psychopath is to
imagine yourself in torture camera with an inquisitor presiding questioning you.
It's actually pretty close analogy as he/she is you boss and being a sadist
enjoy inflicting pain. Other useful analogy that can help is deposition in a court.
Here you can find several useful links on the Internet. You can also try to
imitate a robot -- that a very good counter play against corporate psychopath
because he is also a robot that assumed human mask -- everything is false in
him/her, emotions, statement of qualification, facts of biography he/she
carefully reveled, etc.
- Listen carefully to every question. Pause before answering, make sure you understand
the question, think it over, and only then try to answer; then be direct with your answer.
Pause 10 seconds before you try to answer any question.
- Short answers are the best. Do not offer any information you more than asked
of you. Answer only the question
asked of you, and then stop talking. Do not add any commentary. One of the oldest
(and most effective) techniques is, once you've given your answer, the lawyer looks
at you as if to say: "Keep talking." Do not fall into this trap. Just look back
at him calmly and politely as if to say: "I am waiting on you to ask another question."
- Systematically use pause before an answer to weight and reassess your
options. Do not jump to answer or reply to anything. Do not attempt to be
smooth. This is not a conversation. You might use you watches to ensure proper pause before an answer or to
keep silence and back off if you speak too much.
- Be polite and formal, practice
negative politeness. Always say: "Yes, sir," or "No, ma'am," ....
- Never argue, just state the facts. Avoid Absolute Words.
You are well advised to avoid, where possible, absolute words such as
"always" and "never." Absolute words are an invitation to additional
questions.
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Don’t elaborate or volunteer any information. Volunteering information can be one of the biggest
mistakes an expert makes at deposition. Generally, an expert should
answer only the questions she is asked and not volunteer information.
The volunteering of information will almost always result in new lines
of cross-examination. It may also disclose information to which counsel
otherwise never would have become privy.
- Do not, for any reason, exhibit hostile feelings or aggression
towards corporate psychopath.
- Do not tell jokes or say anything sarcastic...
- Keep your composure, maintain your
focus and your credibility. Ignore emotional tantrums from psychopath
as they are usually carefully planned provocations. They are
provocations and are aimed squarely to get you out of balance so that you
make a mistake or blunder.
- Ask for a break, or ask permission to
bring coffee if you feel the need to expend some emotion or situation got
out of control
Copyright © 1996-2008 by Dr. Nikolai Bezroukov.
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Last updated:
February 28, 2008