Communicating helps us thrive and survive as humans. We are social creatures, after all! However, sometimes we can find ourselves struggling to communicate in a healthy or positive way. Today we’re going to share our top five tips for communicating better.
#1 Write Things Down
If you’re having a hard time figuring out exactly what you want to communicate, you might want to spend some time with a pen and paper. Writing your thoughts and feelings down will help you work out what it is you want to communicate. And, it can help you calm down if you’re feeling a strong emotion that makes it hard to communicate effectively.
#2 BE OPEN AND HONEST
Once you’ve decided what you want to communicate and why, it’s important to be open and honest. Hiding your feelings is only bound to cause more problems in the future. When you’re communicating with someone, tell them how you really feel.
#3 listen better
When you’re having a conversation with someone, it’s important to listen to what they’re saying. The purpose of communication is understanding both sides and reaching an agreement. So, when the person you’re talking to is speaking, just listen. Don’t think about what you’re going to say next. Don’t think about what you’re having for dinner. Just focus on what they’re saying and what it means for you.
#4 remain respectful
When communicating effectively, especially if it’s a more serious conversation, it’s important to remain respectful and kind. Throwing insults or raising your voice is not going to do any good for either of you. It’s important to communicate with them as you would want them to talk with you.
#5 speak when you’re calm
If you’re having a hard time remaining calm when discussing something with someone, it may be a good time to step back and discuss when you’re feeling more at ease. High emotions won’t do you any good. Give yourself a time out of sorts if you need to collect your thoughts and emotions.
