25/11/2022
Some conversations often end with hurt feelings, power struggles, and unsaid opinions. Sound familiar?
Well, one of the most effective ways to avoid the aforementioned outcomes is to practice non-violent communication (NVC). Earlier this week, we shared the NVC process to teach you how to constructively make your point without the risk of coming off too strong.
This process is especially salient throughout the festive season where many people with different communication methods and opinions may be gathered in one place. This also presents as a perfect opportunity for you to practice effective, assertive, and non-violent communication methods with family and friends.
But what is the benefit for you? According to Rosenberg (1999), non-violent communication methods can serve us in three ways:
1. It can increase your ability to live with choice, meaning, and connection
2. It helps connect empathically with yourself and others to have more satisfying relationships
3. It shares resources so everyone is able to benefit
Although we previously outlined examples of strong and poor communication, we also wanted to share some key differences between passive, assertive, and aggressive communication styles (Orme, 2020).
Specifically, a passive communicator prioritizes the needs of others, even at their own expense. This often leads to being taken advantage of and having their own needs disregarded by others as well.
An assertive communicator mirrors the values of NVC, which is what we should aim for. This communication style emphasizes the importance of all parties’ needs and is defined by confidence and the willingness to compromise.
Aggressive communication, also referred to as violent communication, disregards any other parties involved and consists of constant disrespect, interrupting, and domination.
Now that you are familiar with these types of communication styles, it’s time for you to analyze the way that you convey your thoughts to others (and if there is any room for improvement).
Does your communication style differ per environment? Do you notice yourself switching styles when speaking to different people? Let us know in the comments below!
