How to Handle the "Bulldozer" Communication Style Using the ABC Method™
Printable: Words That Work recipe: strategic communication with the "Bulldozers"
Read time: 5 minutes
Welcome to Words That Work, my weekly newsletter where I share actionable advice on behavior insights and communication skills, drawing on my lifelong passion for communication and human behavior.
Every article aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to master the people aspect of your job, so you can be seen, heard, and valued for your ideas, skills, and contributions.
Remember to grab your weekly Words That Work Recipe at the bottom of the article.
THE ABC METHOD shows you:
How to reflect, decode, and communicate with the "Bulldozer" Communication Style Using the ABC Method™
The Transformation
Why This Works: The ABC Advantage
The Bulldozer Communication Toolkit
Actionable steps
Ready to roll? Grab your coffee and let’s go.
How to Handle the "Bulldozer" Communication Style Using the ABC Method™
"Jen's Manager Bulldozed Every Conversation—Until She Applied ABC"
How one professional transformed workplace intimidation into confident communication using Awareness → Behavior → Communication
Have you ever been in a similar situation as follows?
“Jen dreaded Monday morning meetings. Her manager's booming voice would fill the conference room, cutting off anyone who dared to speak. Every conversation felt like a battlefield—and Jen had surrendered before the first shot was fired.”
Sound familiar?
If you've ever worked with a "bulldozer" communicator, you know the feeling:
the tightness in your chest when they interrupt,
the frustration that builds when your ideas are not being valued,
and that sinking feeling when you walk away thinking, "I should have said something."
Let's walk through how Jen used the ABC Method to transform her relationship with her bulldozer manager—and how you can too.
Step 1: AWARENESS
Reflect: What's going on beneath the surface—inside you?
Jen's Awareness Journey
When Jen first came to me, she was stuck in a reactive loop. Every time her manager interrupted, she would:
Feel her stomach drop
Tell herself: "He doesn't like me." “My ideas are not important.”
Shut down completely
Smile and nod to "keep the peace"
The breakthrough came when we paused to examine her internal story.
Your Turn: The Awareness Audit
When facing a bulldozer communicator, ask yourself:
"What story am I telling myself about this moment?"
Common stories that keep us stuck:
"They don't respect me."
"I'm not important enough to be heard."
"If I speak up, it'll just be ignored."
"I should just stay quiet to avoid conflict."
Actionable Step: The next time you feel steamrolled, pause, observe, and identify:
The physical sensation (tight chest, clenched jaw, shallow breathing)
The story you're telling yourself about why this is happening
The pattern - do you always respond the same way?
Remember: Being self-aware is critical—don't let their behavior turn you into someone you don't want to be.
Step 2: BEHAVIOR
Decode: What's driving this reaction—and how does it usually play out?
Decoding the Bulldozer
Here's what Jen discovered about her manager's behavior pattern:
The Surface Behavior: Loud, interrupting, confrontational, and aggressive
The Deeper Drive: He was protecting his reputation as the "decisive leader" and avoiding the vulnerability of appearing uncertain
Key Insight: Most bulldozers aren't trying to attack you personally—they're trying to control their environment and get things done, because they are task-focused.
Your Turn: The Behavior Decoder
When facing bulldozer behavior, ask:
"What are they trying to control, prove or avoid right now?"
Common bulldozer drivers:
Control: Get things done
Proving: They're the authority in the room
Avoiding: What had to happen isn’t happening
✅ Actionable Steps:
Map the pattern: When does the bulldozing increase? (Stressed deadlines? Senior leadership present? Uncertain territory?)
Identify their currency: What do they value most? (Result? Moving fast? Quick decision?)
Separate intent from impact: They're not necessarily trying to diminish you—they're trying to reach the end result-fast.
Remember: Difficult behavior is often a signal, not a personal attack. Understanding the root cause helps you navigate it successfully.
Step 3: COMMUNICATION
What can you say—or not say—that shifts the moment with strength and clarity?
Jen's Communication Transformation
Armed with awareness and behavioral insight, Jen developed a new approach:
Before ABC Method:
Waited for "perfect moment" to speak (never came)
Tried to match his energy level
Over-explained to prove her worth
Carried the frustration home
After ABC Method:
Led with her recommendation immediately: "Here's what I recommend—and here's why I believe it works."
Stayed calm and assertive while he stayed loud (the contrast made her respectable)
Used strategic pauses instead of competing for airtime
Set internal boundaries about what she would and wouldn't absorb
Aggressive people require asservient responses. Your behaviors must send a clear signal that you are strong and capable.
Your Turn: Strategic Communication with Bulldozers
The Bulldozer Communication Toolkit:
1. Front-load your value (Get to your point in the first 10 seconds)
Instead of: "Well, I was thinking that maybe we could..."
Try: "I recommend X because it delivers Y result."
2. Use the contrast advantage (Stay calm when they're loud)
Your steady presence will stand out against their intensity
Speak slower, not louder, when they escalate
3. Strategic pausing (Let silence do the work)
After they interrupt: Pause 3 seconds, then continue
After making your point, Stop talking and let it land
4. Boundary language (Clear without being confrontational)
"Let me finish this thought, then I'd love your input."
"Anything else I need to know?"
5. Redirect to their values (Speak their language)
"This approach gets us to the decision faster."
"Here's how this reduces risk for the team."
The Transformation
Three months later, Jen reported:
"Now, I don't shut down. I say my piece and let him react how he reacts. But I don't carry it home with me. The best part? He actually listens now because I'm not competing with his energy—I'm offering something different."
The shift wasn't just professional—it was personal. Jen stopped seeing herself as someone who "couldn't handle difficult people" and started seeing herself as someone who could navigate any conversation with clarity and confidence.
Why This Works: The ABC Advantage
Most people try to "out-bulldoze the bulldozer" or avoid them entirely. Both approaches fail because they're reactive.
The ABC Method is different because:
Awareness stops the reactive spiral before it starts
Behavior insight removes the personal sting
Communication strategy gives you tools that actually work
The result? You show up as the professional you want to be, regardless of how others behave.
Your Next Steps
Ready to handle your own bulldozer?
This week: Practice the Awareness Audit during one difficult interaction
Next week: Apply the Behavior Decoder to understand their driving force
Week 3: Try one communication strategy from the toolkit above
Remember: The goal isn't to change them—it's to change how you show up so you can be effective regardless of their style.
Have you encountered a bulldozer communicator?
What strategy worked (or didn't work) for you?
Share your experience below—we learn best when we learn together.
Here is your weekly Words That Work recipe: strategic communication with the "Bulldozers"
Until next week, keep choosing words that work. ~ River