Diplomacy: Use these sample phrases to craft meaningful performance evaluations, drive change and motivate your workforce.

Diplomacy is the practice of conducting negotiations and influencing decisions and behaviors of different parties through dialogue, negotiation and other mature measures that are short of violence.

Diplomacy: Exceeds Expectations Phrases

  • Listens to not just what is being said but also to how it is being said in order to be able to react appropriately
  • Is able to see the world in the eyes of the other person and thus is able to make informed decisions
  • Chooses own words carefully; is able to drive one's own point home without offending other employees or sounding bossy
  • Declines invitations politely, giving a brief apology, instead of saying no immediately and looking angry or upset about it
  • Avoids revealing too much information about oneself, the company and other employees to people one does not know too well
  • Shows attention and uses the right body language when telling someone something very important or delicate
  • Considers other employees cultural differences and tries to act in a sensitive way when making a comment
  • Looks around to know where people are coming from before making a religious, political, or personal comment
  • Pays attention to what a person feels when they speak in order to respond to them in the most diplomatic way possible
  • Lets other people finish instead of interrupting them and asks them how they are doing before delivering bad news

Diplomacy: Meets Expectations Phrases

  • Takes the time to understand issues, words, people, or situations that can cause one to communicate without diplomacy
  • Explains complex ideas clearly when giving a presentation so that people will not have to ask for clarification
  • Learns and respects one's personal boundaries in order to regulate stress and frustrations
  • Looks for the right time to raise concerns or make requests in order to avoid wasting other employees' time
  • Actively listens in order to understand when a person has shut down and doesn't want to hear any more of the subject
  • Shows sensitivity especially when addressing negative issues or situations that might involve negative emotions
  • Tries to avoid placing blame on someone in order to not make the individual feel defensive
  • Presents own ideas without coming off as someone who doesn't value what other employees have to say or someone rude
  • Avoids using fingers to point at other employees as this could be seen as a sign of aggression
  • Takes a deep breath before talking in order to release some of the tension, clear own mind and speak more diplomatically other than emotionally

Diplomacy: Needs Improvement Phrases

  • Is not able to assess the situation or the factual information at hand without including one's own emotions
  • Presents information in ambiguity; does not care about using simple language to help people understand one's own points
  • Uses language that is often heard as confrontational and overly aggressive without minding the feelings of others
  • Often engages in emotionally charged and argumentative discussions instead of allowing some time for the discussions to cool off
  • Agrees to be interrupted when making a point, rather than asking the person who is interrupting to wait until one is finished with own point
  • Does not take the time to breathe or think things through before one says or does anything
  • Avoids looking people in the eye and uses an aggressive tone of voice when getting one's own diplomatic point across
  • Is often overly friendly when making a diplomatic point thus makes others take one less seriously
  • Is not able to stand up for oneself or make others agree with one's own ideas
  • Gets wrapped up in people who make negative comments about the company or other employees

Diplomacy: Self Evaluation Questions

  • Describe a time when you have been required to use diplomacy to solve a problem at work. How did you go about it?
  • Can you describe a specific time when you have had to use tact and diplomacy to put an important point across?
  • Can you give an example of one time when you have had to speak up in order to let people know how you felt about a certain situation?
  • Is there a time when you have used diplomacy skills to gain information needed to solve a problem? How did you go about it?
  • How have you used your diplomacy skills to achieve an important goal you have set in the past? What are some of the challenges you faced?
  • Is there a time when you have had to analyze a situation or person carefully in order to be effective in guiding your action? How did you go about it?
  • Can you describe one particular instance when you have positively influenced the actions of other employees in the desired direction?
  • What does diplomacy mean to you? How do you make sure to remain diplomatic when dealing with a difficult employee?
  • Have you ever faced a situation that needed you to act very discreetly? How did you manage it?
  • How do you react when you receive negative feedback from other employees about your personality?