Hable con ella - Talk to them

They say a man is a two-face, who shows sharp teeth at work and then plays angel back home (most women are the same, by the way). In cutting my way through the corporate jungle, I’ve experienced many people who showed one face at work and a completely different one at leisure or under different circumstances. In my (at first) inexperienced mind, there was at first confusion about which face one should work with when deciding on a way to handle that specific person. The secret lies in tuning yourself to the situation and the person, reflecting their attitudes and gestures and (most especially) their words.

Have you ever noticed how your colleagues, parents and friends react when you answer them by using the same words they use? The feedback comes in a friendly tone of voice; a verbal conflict is less likely to arise. People tend to see themselves in others and the sense of foreign scares them and makes them uncomfortable (that’s stopping short of saying aggressive).

There are some communication experts who will never let you see their true face, and there are people lost in translation, who will tell you everything you may want to hear and then get lost in their own mis-understandings. Let the person in front of you be your guide, dip into their emotions and you will find the way to getting past their alternative faces and unmasking their true self.

When you’re here
every thought I ever had becomes clear
But when you’re far the only light I ever see is the Stars
And when you go, the feelings burn as they grow
Cause to me, to me you’re Beautiful
(Reamonn - Josephine)