When someone talks down to you, use Dolly Parton's simple trick to 'maintain your dignity and disarm' them, says expert
Communication expert Dorie Clark calls it the "label upgrade" strategy. "It's a powerful move," she says. "Own the truth," then redefine their label. Here's how.
TL;DR
- Patronizing comments often stem from incorrect assumptions based on age, newness, or background.
- The 'label upgrade' strategy involves accepting a label and then redefining its meaning.
- Dolly Parton famously used this by embracing the term 'hillbilly' and associating it with pride, class, and intelligence.
- This strategy allows you to maintain dignity and disarm those who are talking down to you.
- Examples include reframing 'too inexperienced' as having a fresh perspective or 'over the hill' as possessing wisdom.