Whether it’s on social media or in person, there is a lot of negativity going around. I hear from clients that members of their staff exhibit both verbal and nonverbal aggression, and anyone who has shared anything publicly knows that people don’t hold back the vitriol.
The best advice I have is not to escalate things. “Be neutral to neutralize” is a good mantra to follow. Often, the negativity aims to elicit a reaction, and failing that, it moves on to another source (victim?).
I certainly understand that this is easier said than done, but if you can summon the strength to remain unphased, it helps to defuse the situation more expeditiously. I’m reminded of a piece of Warren Buffett’s “indispensable life advice,” where he reminds us that “You can always tell someone to go to hell tomorrow.”
Don’t give the aggressor the reaction they are seeking. Hold your tongue, keep your fingers off the keyboard, and remain neutral in the face of the daggers directed your way. We’ll all be better for it.
