In everyday life as well as in business, communication is everything. But what happens when you are unexpectedly pushed into a corner? How do you react to pointed remarks or even verbal attacks? One possible answer: repartee. It is an art form that everyone can and should learn in order to survive confidently not only in everyday life, but especially in the professional world.

In my recent podcast conversation with Magda Blackmann we have taken a close look at how you can become more quick-witted through targeted training and what positive effects this can have on your career. Let's take a look at why it's so important to cultivate this skill:

Wie Schlagfertigkeit Deine Kompetenz stärkt

If you lack quick-wittedness at the right moment:

1. Loss of credibility : If you are always left without words, colleagues or superiors could get the impression that you lack the necessary competence.
2. Weakened negotiating position : In negotiations, every second counts; Hesitation or silence could be interpreted as insecurity and weaken your position.
3. Reduced respectability : People tend to respect people who can express themselves confidently – a lack of Ready wit undermines this self-image.

What are the benefits of being quick-witted?

1. Increased Persuasiveness : If you can answer quickly and accurately, it is easier to convince of your ideas and arguments.
2. Increased self-confidence : With every successful quick-witted commentary, one's own Self-confidence – a key to success in many areas of life.
3. Improved conflict management skills : Effective communication helps to address conflicts constructively instead of escalating them.

Three particularly important aspects for more repartee:

  • Active listening: Active Listen means complete attention to the interlocutor as well as questioning what has been heard to clarify ambiguities before reacting yourself.
  • Use humor as a tool: A humorous response can relieve tension without being aggressive towards the other person – a fine art!
  • Recognizing the importance of the pitch: The content may be important, but "the tone makes the music". The right intonation often determines how our words are received by the other person.

All three points are essential for effective communication in everyday business and should therefore be practiced regularly.

Listen to my whole conversation with Magda Bleckmann in the podcast:

The Foundation: Training & Preparation

There is no shortcut to mastery in repartee; it requires continuous practice and reflection of one's own reactions in different situations. Magda recommends the following approaches:

1) Role plays: Simulate difficult conversations with a partner or coach.
2) Train spontaneity: Improvisation exercises help you to react more quickly to unforeseen statements.
3) Establish a feedback culture: Regular feedback makes it possible to identify weaknesses and record progress.

Would you like a practical example?

Imagine someone saying pejoratively during a meeting "That was clear again." Instead of being offended, you could reply "Yes, exactly! And next time I will make it even clearer what is important." This way you show presence without attracting negative attention.

Powerful answers signal not only competence, but also leadership qualities because they Sovereignty – something that is indispensable, especially in a leading position!

I wish you a lot of fun training your repartee! It's a great thing if you take the time to develop your communication skills – because ultimately your entire environment benefits from it, both professionally and privately!

Has this post inspired you to actively work on your repartee? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below – and share this post if it helped you. Feel free to ask me your questions right here – together we will find solutions to everyday challenges!

Blaue handschriftliche Unterschrift auf transparentem Hintergrund, die Bände spricht und mit Raffinesse verkauft.

Your Arno Fischbacher

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The author:

Arno Fischbacher is a business voice coach and rhetoric expert, speaker and author. He prepares executives and employees of the top companies in Germany and Austria for negotiations, presentations and media appearances. Fischbacher is the author of several books, past president of the German Speakers Association (GSA) Austria, chairman of the European Network of Voice Experts, stimme.at.

If you would like to learn more about specific training opportunities with Arno Fischbacher, make an appointment here free information talk.


Lächelnder Glatzkopf in blauem Blazer, mit Abbildungen einer Hand, die ein Telefon hält, und einer dampfenden Kaffeetasse neben dem Text „Lass uns reden“. Unauffällig daneben erscheint ein Kalendersymbol, das eine einfache Terminplanung suggeriert.