Effective Communicating
Effective Communicating
Effective Communicating
Probably the first thing to note about effective communication is that each situation
needs to be assessed on its merits. That is, there are not really any “right” or “wrong”
ways of communicating, as different situations require different approaches. Taking this
into account, however, there are a number of relatively simple strategies that will help
you to communicate more effectively more often and in more situations.
1. Keep calm – if you are relaxed and can avoid becoming distressed you will be in a
better position to hear what the other person is saying, as well as to say what you
want to say.
2. Think very carefully about what you want to say and be as specific as possible.
You will find this easiest if you refer mostly to actual behaviours. That is, what was
it about the situation that upset you? What did you, or the other person, actually do?
What would you like the other person to do?
4. Remember that not everyone always agrees about the way things should be done or
about the way things should be. As such, rather than saying something like “this is
how it should be…”, it is usually best to express your needs by using statements such
as “I want…” or “I would like…”. If this is followed by a description of a specific
behaviour (see point 2) then the person receiving the message should be clear about
what your needs are.
5. Similarly, it is useful to include statements that accurately describe how you feel.
While doing so, it is important not to blame the other person by saying things like
“you make me feel…”. Rather, it is less confrontational, and more helpful to say
something like “when you did …I felt …”.
6. Chose your time carefully – particularly if you are discussing an issue that is
complex and/or potentially distressing, timing is of the essence. Ideally, try to find a
time that will suit all involved, and not necessarily a time when you will feel rushed,
be too tired or when distractions and interruptions will interfere with your discussion.
7. Be aware of unhelpful thoughts – and do something about them (see resource sheets
“Common Examples of Unhelpful Thoughts” and “Managing Unhelpful Thoughts”).