Keeping your cool in difficult situations, particularly while talking about ethics, requires using a few crucial techniques:

Active Listening: Focus entirely on the other person. Pay close attention to what they have to say without interjecting. This not only demonstrates your respect for them, but it also clarifies their viewpoint for you.

Remain Calm: Control your feelings. In case you find yourself becoming angry or defensive, take a few deep breaths. Being composed makes it easier to think clearly and react intelligently. Put Principles First Rather Than Personalities: Instead of letting emotional triggers or personal assaults divert your attention, deal with the current ethical dilemmas. Don’t talk about anything but facts and ideals.

Recognise Emotions: If feelings are strong, recognise them without allowing them to dominate the discussion. Saying something like, “I recognise that this topic is very important and can be emotionally charged,” for example, can both validate sentiments and steer the debate in the right direction.

Take Breaks When Needed: If the discussion gets too intense, recommend pausing for a while to gather your thoughts and calm off. This can stop the discussion from getting more heated.

Be Ready: Understand your ethical position and the justification for it. Being well-prepared with facts and a convincing argument can help you remain composed and eloquent in difficult conversations.

You can handle difficult ethical discussions by using these strategies.