Communication is the doorway that we use to build and nurture relationships. It is a means and not an end to itself which means that how we treat and make them feel as we are communicating with them is also important. This golden rule applies to everyone you interact with. If you can listen to understand and not to reply then you set a stage for a fruitful conversation in which every one walks away feeling understood.
Here are some tips when communicating with people and especially those Individuals who look up to you for compassionate care:
1. Show respect & kindness– Avoid name calling, keep legs and arms uncrossed. Your body language should not be defensive and crossing the legs & arms indicates a defensive attitude and may cause others to react accordingly.
2. Be kind and open- Practice active listening and be patient enough as the person puts their point across. The temptation to cut people halfway is real but it is something that you can train yourself not to do. Everyone eventually gets a chance to speak and when your time comes you can add value to the conversation because you have clearly listened to understand and not to respond.
3. Speak directly to the person and not to whoever may be accompanying them- This has nothing more than being respectful and understanding of the fact that the Individual deserves a chance to be heard. They might have a loved one with them or a legal guardian with them but if you would like to for instance give a compliment, you can go right ahead and give the Individual a heart felt compliment, smile at them and let them know what you think.
4. Don’t change your style of communication unless they ask to. Again it all goes back to setting healthy and respectable boundaries. Raising the voice to get your point across or getting frustrated when people don’t understand what you are saying is common. You however need to look at the big picture and think of what potential damages a knee jerk reaction can have on your relationship.
5. Offer help without pushing it– You can lay out the options of what your help will do to them. Again, it all goes back to understanding what the person is telling you and getting them from where they are at and not where you would wish for them to be. Using the same understanding with a legal guardian or a family loved one can also be beneficial.
6. Consider alternative communication methods to communicate as needed. Be flexible and open minded to what works for the other party and adapt to that which works best for them.
The need to be always right and feed our egos when communicating are two of the most common things that ruin our relationships. These things can easily be overcome if there is mutual understanding and respect in communication.