Good communication is an essential part of any healthy relationship, revealing feelings, attitudes, and expectations. Whether the relationship is with a friend, a roommate, a significant other, or even a parent, being honest, sharing your feelings and understanding the other person is absolutely vital.
Communication is a dialogue – both speaking and listening are absolutely necessary. You can have good communication by:
- Being open, each person has to be able to express their own feelings and opinions
- Actively listening to and understanding the other person’s point of view
- Remembering it’s ok to disagree
We’re always communicating our thoughts and feelings, even when we don’t realize it, through our tone and body language. When they convey the same message as our words, communication is most effective. If something’s bothering you, try to talk about it. If you disagree on something, consider a compromise or middle ground. Sometimes, this can be a little trickier than it sounds.
People’s perspectives and experiences guide how they choose to communicate with others, at any given time. Understanding there are multiple communication styles can help us identify how others communicate and choose how we want to express ourselves. The different styles of communication are:
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See these tips about improving relationships through effective communication in relationships.