I can tell you from years of experience that softening the truth about an issue doesn’t persuade people. Be kind, yes, but be clear and strong. Understand that, no matter how sweet you are, if you’re saying something true or articulating a controversial perspective, there will always be critics telling you you’re being too harsh and divisive. They’ll demand, of course, that you have some empathy, which is typically code for: “You must agree with me.”
