An “emotion phase” mindset tends to expect you to know about their state and reacts badly if you don’t join them there.
A “solution focused” mindset can easily talk and not react badly about a misjudgement on your part.
So if you want to be safe, then your opening line should always presume the other person is in the emotional phase. The response will tell you if you’re right. And if you’re not right then the other person is in a position to negotiate without being upset about it.
An “emotion phase” mindset tends to expect you to know about their state and reacts badly if you don’t join them there.
A “solution focused” mindset can easily talk and not react badly about a misjudgement on your part.
So if you want to be safe, then your opening line should always presume the other person is in the emotional phase. The response will tell you if you’re right. And if you’re not right then the other person is in a position to negotiate without being upset about it.
This makes sense to me as a social dynamic without reducing it to a prompt like above.