Out-neutral / Advice url
Be Resourceful
- Try to find a clever solution that would be like killing two birds with one stone.
- Here's an idea that you might find useful.
- Fight fire with fire.
- You should have thought of that before, but now you'll have to make up for lost time.
- Hold onto it, because you never know when it will come in handy.
- Drink some coffee, or take a quick nap, and that might perk you up.
- If you put your thinking cap on, maybe you’ll come up with a creative solution.
- Rise to the occasion.
- Put your thinking cap on.
- Try to come up with an 'out-of-the-box' solution.
- I came up with idea from out of the blue.
- I think that a solution to this problem might require a paradigm shift, a whole new way of looking at the situation.
- Ahah!
Be Resourceful
Out-positive / Agreement url
Do you mind if I take the car to shop for food?
- That’s fine with me.
- By all means.
- Be my guest.
- That’s cool with me.
- I don’t mind at all.
Do you mind if I take the car to shop for food?
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Losing an election
- I guess I had it coming to me.
- It’s just wasn’t in the cards.
- You win some, you loose some.
- I guess I’ll just have to learn to live with it.
- I think I got the picture.
- That’s about the size of it.
- He was bound and determined to do it.
- He won, hands down.
- He’s a better man than I am.
- It’s was a forgone conclusion.
- The show’s over.
- That’s just the way it is.
- It was a missed opportunity.
- I had a feeling that would happen.
Losing an election
In-neutral / Acceptance url
Buying a car
- I dropped a bundle on it, but I’m glad I bought it.
- The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
- How can I resist?
- I might as well.
- You never get something for nothing.
- It’s growing on me.
- It’s the best that I can do.
Buying a car
Out-positive / Concern url
Visiting a friend who is recovering from an operation
- I hope you’re feeling better.
- Can I get you something?
- You look a little better than before.
- Now, that wasn’t so painful, was it?
- I’m glad to see that you’re up and about.
- How are you doing?
- I was sick with worry.
- Would you like something?
- Put your mind at ease.
- I was worried sick about it.
- Coming to visit was the least I could do.
- Thank goodness the body has a way of healing itself.
- If there’s anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to ask.
- You have my blessings.
- Is everything OK?
Visiting a friend who is recovering from an operation
In-negative / Disappointment url
Getting a speeding ticket
- I have no one to blame but myself.
- I need that like a hole in the head.
- That’s what I was afraid of.
- That’s the last thing I wanted.
- What a shame!
- That’s just my luck.
- It happens to the best of us.
- But I don’t have to like it, do I?
Getting a speeding ticket
In-negative / Explaining url
After getting too angry at the kids
- I lost control.
- This is what I have to deal with all the time.
- Things got the better of me.
- I’m a bit overwhelmed.
- I wasn’t myself.
- I was caught off-guard.
- It goes with the territory.
- I’ve been a little on edge.
- I meant well.
- I hope you understand.
- That’s easy for you to say, but put yourself in my shoes.
- I just got carried away.
After getting too angry at the kids
In-positive / Confidence url
Given a new assignment at work
- I should have no trouble accomplishing the task.
- This will be one more feather in my cap.
- I know everything there is to know about it.
- It’s a piece of cake.
- Consider it done.
- I’ve done it once, and I can do it again.
- That’ll be no problem whatsoever.
- I can knock that off in no time flat.
- I can get through this in no time at all.
- I know where it’s at.
- Now we're getting into a whole new territory.
- That’s very do-able.
- That will be carried out to the letter.
- That’s as easy as pie.
- I’m going to get it done in two seconds flat.
- My head is still above water.
Given a new assignment at work
In-neutral / Acceptance url
After an operation
- It’s just going to take time.
- I’m feeling as well as can be expected given the circumstances.
- I think for a while I’ll just have to get used to living with it hanging over my head.
- I’ll take each day as it comes.
- I wouldn’t have it any other way.
- It is what it is.
- I can’t complain.
- Every cloud has a silver lining.
- It takes some getting used to.
- At first after the operation, I felt achy all over, but I recovered bit by bit, day by day, slowly but surely.
- It could have been a whole lot worse.
- Life has its challenges.
After an operation
Out-positive / Encouragement url
For a friend who was just promoted to be head of sales
- I always knew you had it in you.
- You’ll go right to the top.
- If you play your cards right, nothing will stand in your way, and you will be very successful.
- This is a big moment for you.
- That’s a lucky break for you.
- Here’s your big chance.
- They must think a lot of you.
- You’re going to do a bang-up job.
- More power to you.
- Hit the ground running.
- Give it your all.
For a friend who was just promoted to be head of sales
Out-neutral / Negotiating url
I’m trying to see your viewpoint-3
- That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said all day.
- Tell me something I don’t already know.
- I know where you’re at.
- Don’t keep me in the dark.
- What do you mean by that?
- Why do you say that?
- Tell me in layman’s terms.
- How can you say that?
- What do you think about it?
- What makes you say that?
- There’s nothing good you can say about it?
- What does that have to do with it?
- Is that what you’re driving at?
- I don’t know if I’ve answered your question or not.
- I’m bending over backwards to see things your way.
I’m trying to see your viewpoint-3
Out-neutral / Advice url
Examine-2
- Get both sides of the story.
- There’s more to it than that.
- There’s more to it that meets the eye.
- Take note of it.
- Get to the root of the problem.
- Keep your eyes peeled.
- You’ll see.
- A picture is worth a thousand words
Examine-2