Скачать или смотреть 4 Genius Responses to Insults from Toxic People

Download the free playbook: https://www.danoconnortraining.com/si...

Never be at a loss for words again. If you’ve ever frozen in a meeting, replayed the moment all night, and wished you had the perfect comeback—this is for you. In this video I teach you 4 power responses that flip the script on toxic coworkers, passive-aggressive comments, and those little credibility snipes that derail your day. The goal isn’t to “clap back.” The goal is to shift control—calmly—so they answer to you, not the other way around.

Why you go blank under pressure: your amygdala hijacks your language center. That’s normal. The solution isn’t more theory; it’s training. Communication skills isn’t a “soft skill”—it’s a language skill. And like any language, it only shows up under stress if you’ve trained it in with repetition. I’ll give you the exact lines, show you how to use them, and walk you through a simple practice plan so they come out automatically when it counts.

What you’ll learn
• The 4 Magic Phrases that buy you time and make them answer you
• The “Ask, Don’t Defend” rule that ends spirals and power games
• How to respond to what they’re doing (the tactic), not what they’re saying (the bait)
• A step-by-step practice loop that beats the amygdala hijack—repetition over rumination

The 4 Magic Phrases (core lines from the video)
1. “That’s interesting—why would you say that?”
2. “That’s interesting—why would you do that?”
3. “That’s interesting—why would you ask me that?”
4. “That’s interesting—tell me more.”
Bonus clarifier: “When you say X, it sounds like you’re saying Y. Is that what you mean?”

Why these work: They stop the reflex to defend, force clarity, and reveal intent. The instant you move from answering to asking, you flip the power dynamic. You’re no longer reacting to insults, speculation, or bait; you’re naming the behavior and making the other person explain themselves—on the record, in front of witnesses if you’re in a meeting.

Real-world example
Sniper line: “I’m surprised they gave you lead—thought they’d choose someone more competent.”
Most people defend: “My numbers are great, deadlines, blah blah…”
Power move: “That’s interesting—why would you say that to me here?”
Then, once you name the behavior: “So instead of asking the decision-maker—or asking me how I earned the role—you chose to question my competence publicly in this meeting. Why would you do that?”
Translation: You called out the tactic, not the words. The room hears it. The game changes.

Practice plan: train it, don’t just “learn” it
• Micro-drill (60 seconds): Say each line out loud 5–10 times with a slight lean-in and steady tone.
• Switch-ups: Swap “say/do/ask” to fit any scenario.
• Mirror reps: Practice eye contact and a neutral face; no eye-rolls, no smirks.
• Lightning round: Have a friend throw mock comments; you answer with one of the 4 lines—no explanations.
• Journal the win: After a real conversation, write one sentence—what tactic were they using, and which line you chose.

Who this helps
If you’re an introvert, a high-achiever who hates drama, or a professional who is done with being steamrolled—especially if you’ve been told to “be nicer” while others get away with shots in meetings—these phrases restore your footing fast. Gen-X pros and seasoned contributors love this method because it’s calm, repeatable, and doesn’t require you to become someone you’re not.

Download the free playbook (train it in)
I put the drills, printable prompts, and quick scripts into a free playbook so you can turn these from “good ideas” into automatic responses. Grab it here: https://www.danoconnortraining.com/si...

How to use this video
1. Watch once for the overview.
2. Watch again and pause at each phrase; say it out loud five times.
3. Keep the playbook on your desk for one week and run the 60-second drill before meetings.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Magic Phrases
00:52 The Four Magic Phrases
01:02 Applying the Magic Phrases
03:20 Training and Repetition
04:41 Conclusion and Additional Resources

Comment prompt
What’s the exact line that got under your skin this week? Post it in the comments and I’ll suggest a “That’s interesting…” response you can use tomorrow.

Next watch
Want to command the room before you say a word? Watch my video on silencing the room and earning respect at the start of a meeting.

Copy-and-use snippets
• “That’s interesting—why would you say that?”
• “That’s interesting—why would you do that?”
• “That’s interesting—why would you ask me that?”
• “That’s interesting—tell me more.”
• “When you say X, it sounds like you’re saying Y. Is that what you mean?”

Remember: when emotions run high, we don’t rise to the occasion—we fall to our level of training. Build the reps now so your words are there when you need them most.

#CommunicationSkills #Workplace #Assertiveness #VerbalSelfDefense #ToxicPeople #OfficePolitics #Confidence #ProfessionalDevelopment