bossdetox.ingBroken Record
Repeat one reasonable request rather than endlessly justifying it.
Practitioner communication technique · evidence grade C
Where it comes from
An assertiveness technique described by Manuel J. Smith in When I Say No, I Feel Guilty (1975).
What the evidence says
Assertiveness training has supportive evidence; this specific micro-technique hasn’t been tested on its own.
When it helps
Repeated pressure, boundary erosion and requests that keep getting reframed.
Offered in the app for: Circular interrogation · Conflicting urgent priorities · Excessive workload
Try it
- Pick one reasonable answer. Repeat it; don’t expand it.
- Choose one reasonable question. Repeat it once if nothing material has changed; pause if the situation escalates.
Watch out
- Repetition can look obstructive when genuinely new information appears.
- Do not ignore material new facts or keep repeating under threat.
Sources
The evidence label describes a broader process or framework. This extension and its brief workplace exercises have not been independently validated.