Respect Vs. Disrespect
What is one respectful way to say "I don't agree."
What does “pause” mean in communication?
Taking a moment before responding instead of reacting
Is it okay to feel frustrated with staff?
Yes—feelings are valid, behavior still matters
Yelling usually escalates or de-escalates conflict?
Escalates
Fill in the blank: “I feel ___ when ___.”
Emotion + situation
True or False: Rolling your eyes is still respectful if you don’t say anything.
False
Name one sign your emotions are taking over.
Raised voice, fast talking, clenched fists, racing thoughts
What’s one respectful way to disagree with a staff decision?
Ask calmly, request clarification, use “I” statements
What’s one phrase that can de-escalate a tense situation?
“I need a minute” / “Can we talk later?” / “I’m feeling frustrated”
Why are “I” statements better than “you” statements?
They reduce blame and defensiveness
Name one nonverbal behavior that can feel disrespectful.
Eye rolling, sighing, turning away, smirking, ignoring
Finish the sentence: “If I say this right now, the situation will probably ___.”
Get worse / escalate / cause conflict (or calm it, depending)
What’s the difference between explaining and arguing?
Explaining shares perspective; arguing tries to win or escalate
True or False: Walking away respectfully can be a good choice.
True
Turn this into an “I” statement: “You never listen to me.”
“I feel ignored when I’m not heard.”
What’s a respectful alternative to saying, “That’s stupid”?
“I don’t understand that” / “That doesn’t make sense to me”
What’s one strategy to calm yourself before responding?
Deep breathing, counting, grounding, asking for space
What can happen if you speak to peers disrespectfully in residential?
Conflict, loss of trust, peer issues, consequences
What’s one thing staff are looking for when someone is upset?
Safety, communication, willingness to calm down
What’s one respectful way to ask for space?
“I need a minute to calm down.”
Why can tone of voice matter more than the words you use?
Tone communicates attitude/emotion and can escalate or de-escalate conflict
Why is it harder to communicate respectfully when you feel disrespected?
It triggers fight-or-flight and emotional reactions
Why might respectful communication with staff help you in the long run?
Builds trust, privileges, support, and better outcomes
Name one way to take responsibility without blaming yourself.
“I shouldn’t have said that” / “I could’ve handled it better”
Why does respectful communication matter even when you’re right?
Being right doesn’t matter if the message isn’t received