Your communications workshop experience jives well with my observations. Over the last decade or so, I've evolved my expression style to a much more discussion

Your communications workshop experience jives well with my observations. Over the last decade or so, I've evolved my expression style to a much more discussion oriented tone (de-escalating the situation) rather than a debate oriented one (trying to prove yourself right, often escalating tensions). If a subject is worth talking about with someone, I hold a frame of mind that they might have something new to say which will augment my understanding of the situation. IME, that makes people much more open to communicate -- they listen to you with an open mind, consider what you're saying, and respond with their perspective. I much prefer this mode of operation, because my perspective had diversified significantly from the things I've learned and I consider it as bringing out the best in the people I communicate with. Conversations are now a collaborative discovery process. "Strong opinions, weakly held" (in it's best spirit) is often a crutch for people who feel paralyzed by ambiguity. This mindset lets them sweep uncertainty under the rug and continue operating ("bias for action") till feedback requires them to change their mind. The problem with that assumption is that the willingness of people around them to express feedback is inversely proportional to the confidence they express. On the topic of being comfortable with ambiguity, I feel Feynman puts it best: https://youtu.be/_MmpUWEW6Is https://youtu.be/_MmpUWEW6Is