![]()
It happens to all of us: it's the holidays and you have to interact with the relative(s) who may be a bit off-base when it comes to the issues you care about. There are typically two ways you can deal with it: ignore them or argue with them, and – let's be honest – rarely does either tactic get anywhere. (Well, other than compelling you to go anywhere they're not.) Since it's our mission to help everyday people make more sustainable choices (even exasperating relatives), we're here to help you make some headway when it comes to convincing them that sustainability matters. Check out some of our helpful tips below! We even made you a matching chart to help you practice. Fun, right? 1. Flies and Honey Ever hear the idiom that it’s easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar? It’s true, so be nice! (It is the holidays after all.) There is no reason to yell, scold or demean someone just because they don’t agree. And, apart from all the great reasons why you shouldn’t be mean, there is another reason outside of just etiquette: people will actually listen to you – maybe even the person who needs it most. 2. Pick your Battles No one wants someone to always be on their case. At some point you’ll just be easy to tune out (“there s/he goes again, talking about food...”). You’re trying to get people to change their minds or even admit they’re wrong and that takes time and a lot of courage. So don’t expect someone to do a complete 180. Pick the low hanging fruit or maybe the issue that means the most to you and apply gentle pressure with easy alternatives. 3. Don’t Speculate Wildly Suspicion is one thing, but wild-eyed guessing and conspiracy theories are another. People trust calm, rational argument way more than fear-mongering exaggeration. Always admit grey areas and fall back on the need for more study and investigation. The last thing you want to do is sound shrill or hysterical. Leave that to the folks who disagree with you. Remember: sustainable food is the way of the future. You’re not wrong! 4. Use Evidence Bring evidence, but when you do, do it right. Tons and tons of stats aren’t always the best way to go – though they are definitely important. Have a few that are really impressive: like 40 percent of food is wasted or more than 90 percent of corn and soy grown in the US are genetically engineered. The most moving pieces of evidence you can use are images. Just use your smart phone! 5. Find Common Values – and Exploit Them This one is huge! It just so happens that, on the whole, your family members are probably pretty nice people who value good things like a beautiful landscape, happy animals and healthy people. Use this to your advantage. When people are set in their ways about an issue, come at them from something you know they care about like the plight of farmers. 6. Use Communication Tactics as a Weapon for Good You know all those self-help books like “How to Win Friends & Influence People” that focus on making you a better communicator? There’s another book out there titled “It’s Not All About Me: Ten Techniques for Building Quick Rapport With Anyone" written by Robin Dreeke who heads the FBI’s Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program. The tips Dreeke gives about building rapport with people (read: getting people to trust what you say) can be used for good – like getting your family to make sustainable choices. 7. Threaten Just joking! Don’t ever do this – unless, for instance, you’re talking about collective threats to humanity’s wellbeing, like antibiotic resistance and industrial meat production.
