“The Gentle Warrior's Playbook”
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Title: Verbal Judo
Author: George J. Thompson and Jerry B. Jenkins
Category: Public Speaking & Communication, Psychology & Human Behavior
What if the goal of a conflict isn't to win, but to make sure no one has to lose? Sam and Sophie open Verbal Judo with that question, and it reframes everything that follows.
They walk through George J. Thompson's gentle warrior mindset and the verbal karate moves we all default to — commands, threats, condescension, lectures — before unpacking the LEAPS framework: Listen, Empathize, Apologize, Problem Solve, Satisfy. The pair linger on why "I understand, but" undoes all the empathy that came before it, then move into street-tested tactics like the broken record, I-messages, fogging, and saving face with bullies, complainers, and know-it-alls.
If you've ever left a conversation feeling like you were speaking two languages, this episode gives you a way back to the same page. The takeaway: you can't control the other person's anger, only your response — and restraint is the stronger move.
Verbal Judo by George J. Thompson and Jerry B. Jenkins. For the full written summary, head to 7minutebooks.com/app — over 6,000 fiction and nonfiction titles you can read or listen to in any language, with infographics on many titles. Unlimited access from $2.99 a month, $9.99 a year, or $19.99 lifetime.
Chapters
00:00From Warrior To Gentle Warrior01:12Verbal Karate And The LEAPS Engine02:19Why 'I Understand, But' Fails03:34Broken Record And I-Messages04:54Saving Face And Fogging Insults06:25Takeaway: Control Your Response
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