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- Calm yourself before bringing up a complaint
- Focus on behaviors and not interpretations
- Avoid the use of "always" and "never"
- Use "I" statements
- Say what you need instead of what you don't
- Keep it specific
- Beware of your non-verbal messages
- Apologize for your contribution
- Admit to what's yours/when you were wrong
- Give them a chance to speak
- Look for mutual understanding
- Listen carefully
- Be respectful
- Look for compromise
- Try visualizing yourself in their shoes
- Take a time-out
- Don't give up
- Ask for help, if needed
These tips are provided by recoveringengineer.com, psychologytoday.com, and verywellmind.com
- Stay calm
- Alert someone else for help as soon as possible
- Focus on feelings
- Use a controlled voice
- Listen to what they have to say
- Give them your physical and mental attention
- Do not multi-task
- Do not ignore or pretend to pay attention
- Re-state, clarify and repeat the message
- Validate
- Engage by using eye contact and un-intrusive gestures such as head nods
- Paraphrasing and reflecting on the feelings of the other person
- Give them your physical and mental attention
- Evaluate the implications - sometimes there's a bigger or more serious issue in the background
- Gather more information and talk to others before problem solving process
- Manage your own response
- Be empathetic and nonjudgmental - put yourself in their shoes.
- Don't engage in a power struggle
- Use nonthreatening non-verbals
- 80-90% of communication is non-verbal
- Avoid challenging postures
- Face/Face
- Eye/Eye
- Nose/Nose
- Toe/Toe
- Touching
- Finger Pointing
- Avoid overreacting
- Allow silence for reflection
- Allow time for decisions
- Be clear and speak slowly and simply
- Be respectful
- Offer a positive choice first
- Change the subject
- Motivate
- Be empathetic and nonjudgmental - put yourself in their shoes.
- Set limits
- Respect personal space
- Give choices
- Be thoughtful in deciding which rules are negotiable and which are not
- Ignore challenging questions
- bring the focus back on how you can work together to resolve the problem
- Prevent a physical confrontation
- Use of physical force is NEVER recommended
- It should only be used as a last resort to prevent injury; it usually results in someone getting hurt needlessly
- Remove onlookers or relocate to a safer place
- Send an onlooker for help
- There is safety in numbers
- It is beneficial to have a witness
- Give them space
- Personal space is usually 1.5 to 3 feet
- Stay far enough away they cannot hit, grab or kick you
- Do not touch a hostile person
- Stand on an angle and off to the side
- Personal space is usually 1.5 to 3 feet
- Recognize and understand the non-verbal cues from others
- Use slow and deliberate movements; quick actions may surprise or scare them
- Keep your hands visible at all times
Take preventative measures. Once resolved, it is important to reflect and figure out how to avoid a similar situation in the future.
Bring in another trained person to assist whenever possible. There is less chance of aggressive behavior if two people are talking to one person.
These tips are provided by crisisprevention.com, inc.com, and personnel.ky.gov
In an emergency, call 9-1-1
Hot Springs Police Department 501-321-6789
Garland County Sheriff's Department 501-622-3660
Arkansas State Police Troop K Headquarters 501-767-8550
Cool Down Hot Springs is the City's most recent effort to help prevent violent situations, and it came about following a Community Roundtable hosted by the Hot Springs Police Department (HSPD) on August 7, 2019.
The HSPD emphasis the importance of the community remembering to call 9-1-1 or the police department at 501-321-6789 as the HSPD is ready to answer and respond to any situation. But as was discussed at the Community Roundtable, solving the issues relating to interpersonal and domestic violence involves more than the services provided by the HSPD. These include community services relating to abuse, counseling, criminal justice and legal services, hotlines, mental health, and other resources available in our community.
Communicate, De-escalate, and Get Help are three important actions to keep in mind in a conflict situation. Whether from the HSPD or from another resource, there is help for both victims of violence or would-be violators.
Please see our list of resource links on this page from the Ouachita Region Resource Guide. Please reach out to us at 501-321-6789 for additional help or information.
Cool Down
Resource Links
Criminal Justice and Legal Services
All resource links are provided by the Ouachita Region Resource Guide.