How to Respond to an Insult Impeccably, Steve Jobs Style

You cannot copy the charisma of the great communication geniuses, but you can take advantage of their techniques and use them to your advantage. Like, for example, to solve the question, What is the best way to respond to an insult?style of Steve Jobs.

Steve Wozniak, the other co-founder of Apple, said that Jobs was the best salesman in the world. He knew how to sell the brand Manzanabut he was also able to guess what people wanted.

He understood the human psyche enough to intuit what we didn’t know we were going to desperately need, and that is why the Apple II computer, the iPod or the iPhone was invented. Products that in a short time became essential.

To sell a brand at this level you have to know how to handle uncomfortable situations in public.. Jobs demonstrated it on a few occasions. For example, in this video from 1997, when the founder of Apple had returned to the company after a few years away due to disagreements with management.

He was rebuked by a viewer at a developer conference, regarding a question he had been asked a few minutes earlier.

The developer told him: “Mr. Jobs, you are a brilliant man, but it is sad to see how you do not know what you are talking about. I would like, for example, for you to express in understandable terms how Java and any of its incarnations are reflected in the ideas embodied in OpenDoc. And when you’re done with that, maybe you can tell us what you’ve been up to for the last 7 years.”.

The question calls him ignorant and insinuates that he has wasted his time for the last 7 years. It can be considered a complete insult. Politely phrased, but a grievance. Business Insider breaks down Steve Jobs’ reaction, highlighting a series of guidelines that can be very useful when dealing with an insult.

Jobs was known for his ability to handle difficult situations with emotional intelligence. and exceptional communication skills. Here we present some principles and strategies that you can apply to respond to an insult impeccably.

Trick 1: Think before acting

As you could see in the video, after hearing the question, Jobs takes a sip of water… lowers his head, and thinks for 10 seconds. He even blurts out a sentence… and thinks again for another 10 seconds.

It is a silence that becomes uncomfortable in a room full of people, but there is no problem stopping to reflect calmly before responding..

That’s the first lesson: If you respond hotly to an insult, you will possibly say something that you will later regret.. It is better to stop and believe what you are going to say, even at the cost of awkward silences. You will calm down and choose the answer better.

Trick 2: Agree with the insulter

After thinking it over, the first thing Jobs does is… agree with him. If someone insults you, agree with them, it is the most effective way to respond to an insult.

Maybe not completely, but you can tell him that he is right about some things, or that it is an interesting point of view. In this way you disarm the opponentyou make him relax, and you establish a point of connection with him.

Trick 3: the tree doesn’t let you see the forest

If the grievance has to do with a specific issue, or even if the attacker has solid arguments, changes its partial vision for a higher global vision.

Jobs does not directly answer the question that the developer has asked him, but he implies that if he has said certain things or made certain decisions, it is because he has a global vision that is above all that:

“The hardest thing is: How does this fit into a larger, more cohesive vision that will allow you to sell $8 billion or $10 billion a year? One of the things I’ve always known is that I have to start with the customer experience already. from there develop the technology. “You can’t start with technology and try to figure out where you can sell it,” he explains.

With this argument he does not deny his opponent’s reason, but he places himself above her because he owes himself to a much broader and more important global vision than using this or that software.

Tip 4: be humble

The previous answer implies that Jobs is above simple developers, and that is why He puts himself on their level, to win them over, saying:

“I’ve made this mistake more than anyone else in the room.” In this way he also shows that knows how to recognize mistakes. That increases empathy and credibility.

Trick 5: win over the group

It should be noted that the room is full of developers, but the majority are Apple workers. So nothing better than saying something like: “There are a lot of people working hard at Apple now., literally hundreds of people who are trying their hardest.”

This is clearly an important action, as it praises your audience and recognizes the work and effort of your entire team, in the end, you get all of these people on your side.

Trick 6: I am human, but I learn

Jobs’ response ends with the phrase: “Mistakes will be made. Some of them along the way, and that’s a good thing because it means that some decisions are being made.”… and we will find those mistakes and fix them.”

Jobs has responded to the insult without answering the questions, but he has left his opponent without arguments, he has gained credibility, and he has won over the audience.

Maybe you can’t copy his charisma; However, these techniques can surely come in handy when someone picks on you in public.

Other famous phrases from Steve Jobs for everyday life

Steve Jobs is recognized as one of the most innovative and successful geniuses in history. His legacy includes the founding of pioneering companies (such as Apple, NeXT and Pixar) and the development of revolutionary products, such as the iPhone and Macintosh.

Although his life and career were not free of controversies and mistakes, Jobs has become a benchmark for leadership and creativity.

His words and actions continue to be studied and cited by many entrepreneurs, managers and admirers, who seek to learn from his vision, his passion and his wisdom. Below, we share some of his most inspiring famous quotes for your life:

• “Sometimes life hits you on the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.”
• “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”
• “I grow very little of the food I eat, and of the little I do grow, I did not produce or perfect the seeds. I do not knit any of the clothes I wear. I speak a language I did not invent or refine. I did not discover the mathematics I use. I am protected by freedoms and laws that I did not conceive or help legislate, nor do I ensure their compliance or adjudication. I am moved by music that I did not compose. When I needed medical attention, I could not help myself survive. I did not invent the transistor, the microprocessor, object-oriented programming, or most of the technologies I work with. I love and admire human beings, both the living and the dead, and I am completely dependent on them for me. life and my well-being.
• “There’s no point in hiring smart people and telling them what to do. We hire smart people to tell us what to do.”
• “Your work is going to take up a big part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you don’t already you have found, keep looking. Don’t settle.”
• “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
• “Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
• “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

Steve Jobs was not only a technology pioneer, but also a thinker who left life lessons. His quotes motivate you to follow your passion, to innovate without fear, to be authentic, to trust in your potential to transform the world and to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve.

Responding to an insult is not just about defending your position, but also to maintain personal and professional dignity. Taking a thoughtful and strategic approach can transform a negative situation into an opportunity to demonstrate your character and communication skills.

By responding with grace and wisdom, you not only disarm the potential aggressor, but you also strengthen your own image and credibility. Without a doubt, the creator of the Macintosh, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad, was a philosopher of the digital age who inspires us to improve ourselves every day.

Known how we work on Computertoday.

Tags: Steve Jobs