The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I work for a program that deals with parents of teens. I had an irate parent call me today (my staff warned me that she was "on the warpath and was absolutely impossible to deal with"). It's amazing when you allow someone to say what they have to say and not interrupt them (just like we do at our meetings), and then say what you mean, mean what you say, and not say it mean. It worked beautifully with this particular parent. She just needed someone to listen to her and then she was okay with me being gentle, but firm. I dealt with this same parent three years ago (pre-Al-Anon) and failed miserably with the outcome. I don't know that I would have handled this difficult parent this time around quite so effectively if I hadn't used my Al-Anon program tools.
"It works if you work it!"
-- Edited by Green Eyes on Thursday 15th of March 2012 05:59:22 PM
-- Edited by Green Eyes on Thursday 15th of March 2012 06:00:09 PM
Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.- Maya Angelo
I've learned in the realm of "customer service" that irate people just want to feel like they're being listened to. I find many times I'm playing the role of listening psychologist with some people. I try to not take their attitudes personal (and it can be HARD sometimes). In the end, while I may have had my ear chewed off and spent a good 20 minutes on the phone with someone listening to their grievances, I at least conducted myself professionally and got to spend some time silently praying to my HP!
