When a person feels that they are being blamed—whether rightly or wrongly—it’s common that they respond with defensiveness. “I” statements are a simple way of speaking that will help your clients avoid this trap by reducing feelings of blame. A good “I” statement takes responsibility for one’s own feelings, while tactfully describing a problem.
Our "I" Statements worksheet includes education and tips that will help your clients apply the technique in real-life situations, along with several practice examples.
Tip: Try using the practice examples as the basis for role-playing exercises. Assign one person to play each role, and practice a complete interaction.
