Whether we\u2019re talking about intimate relationships between lovers, family dynamics, bonds with coworkers, or more relaxed interactions with long-term friends, communication in relationships is key to making those connections last. More accurately, effective communication is crucial to anyone\u2019s ability to establish and maintain a healthy relationship with another person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By nature, people want to feel as if they\u2019re accepted and belong. Good communication can go a long way toward making the people you\u2019re involved with feel as if you value and appreciate them. On the flip side, poor communication can make your loved ones and associates think you don\u2019t care about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With communication being a foundational part of any relationship, it\u2019s not overstating to say that working to acquire better communication skills can have life-changing benefits for you and the individuals with whom you have relationships. From improving your mental health to making your partner feel safe and secure, enriching the lives of your friends, and supporting your coworkers, improved communication styles are essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>If you’re looking for new, creative ways to connect with your partner, look no further than Adventures From Scratch: Date Edition<\/em><\/a><\/em>. This source of over 50 activity ideas also includes interactive elements and suggestions for meaningful communication. Created by a team of exploration experts in collaboration with couples who have stood the test of time, it’s sure to help you to deepen your connection with your mate!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Communication consists of two ways people relay messages to each other. The first method is verbal communication that includes your words and tone of voice while the second one is non-verbal cues. As you likely guessed, talking is how people verbally relay information and emotions to each other. Non-verbal communication encompasses all the other unspoken ways people communicate, such as facial expressions, posture, and hand gestures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Healthy communication generally employs both means of relaying feelings and information. When your words and body language communicate the same message, it reduces the chances that miscommunications will occur, although it doesn\u2019t eliminate the possibility altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Individuals who don\u2019t communicate to foster their personal or professional partnerships miss out on opportunities to share critical parts of themselves with others. When you shut down or limit communication, you prevent your relationships from growing and evolving. Sadly, a lack of communication can prevent relationships from lasting or being satisfying for anyone involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s impossible to over-emphasize the importance of communication as it relates to partnerships. Engaging in good communication can have some amazing benefits, which include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another benefit that is a product of good communication is that you and your partner will be able to set clear, unmistakable expectations and boundaries. Whether you live in New York, another metropolis, or a small, rural town, clearly communicated boundaries and expectations are necessary for any relationship to be successful in the short and long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To underscore the importance of clear expectations and boundaries, let\u2019s look at romantic relationships. If you haven\u2019t told your boyfriend that you don\u2019t want him to text other women and that you won\u2019t tolerate flirtatious actions, how will he know those behaviors are inappropriate? Along the same line, how will you know that your partner expects you to pay half the rent for your shared living space and that he has no tolerance for people not pulling their own weight unless he tells you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you have communication issues, it can be difficult, if not impossible to set boundaries and expectations. Without those things, it\u2019s unlikely a given relationship will ultimately have a positive outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it may seem counterintuitive in a discussion of communication, there is such a thing as communicating too much. In general, people fall into two groups: introverts and extroverts. When they\u2019re anxious, people in the former group often shut down and withdraw while those in the latter group are often guilty of communicating way too much information when they\u2019re stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you tend to internalize or externalize your feelings when you\u2019re engaged in conflict, it\u2019s important to remember that neither the silent treatment nor over-communication is the same as meaningful communication. Introverts may want to take some time for themselves before they re-engage in a conversation, but they do need to re-engage at some point. Extroverts, on the other hand, may want to slow down and rethink their messages to avoid saying more just to hear their own voices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to knowing when to retreat from and re-engage in a conversation and being aware of the dangers of over-communication, there are a few things you can do to improve your communication skills. Whether you\u2019re an educator who works with young kids, a self-employed contractor working from home, or you\u2019re in another line of work in an entirely different type of environment, improving your communication skills can pay off on both personal and professional fronts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you stop and think about it, the way a person dresses says something about the individual. Observers in turn use that \u201cstatement\u201d to make assumptions about the person. For example, if you saw a woman wearing a $1,000 suit, you may assume she\u2019s heading to an important business meeting. If you notice an individual wearing a bathing suit, flip-flops, and a hat, you\u2019d probably infer that the person was heading to the nearest pool or beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like clothing relays messaging, so does the way you communicate. When you employ a certain communication style, it relays information about your personality, current mood, and the sort of conversation you\u2019re engaged in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to how fashion might be categorized as chic, hipster, or vintage, there are varying communication styles. Those styles fall into the following categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although people usually have a primary communication style, no one is limited to just one type of communication. Depending on your mood, the impact you want your words to have, your audience, and other factors, you may discover that you\u2019ll use different communication styles from time to time at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People who want to seem indifferent to the subject at hand often use passive communication. Individuals who simply want to keep the peace without having to share their honest opinions often adopt this style of communication. Passive communicators are prone to anxiety, depression, and resentment because they don\u2019t voice their points of view. When they speak, passive communicators often display negative non-verbal cues, such as slouching and failing to make eye contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat I think or feel doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d and \u201cI don\u2019t care what we do,\u201d are common refrains uttered by passive communicators. When you\u2019re in a relationship with someone who says things like that often, put forth greater effort to learn how the person really feels about the topic being discussed. If you are a passive communicator, remind yourself that your opinion matters and take time to collect your thoughts before you speak so you can present them with confidence using positive body language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whereas passive communication is on one end of the spectrum, aggressive communication is on the other. Aggressive communicators don\u2019t hesitate to share their thoughts and opinions, and they often do so using a loud voice that\u2019s meant to control and intimidate listeners. People who adopt this communication style normally maintain intense eye contact with audience members and they tend to stand their ground when opposing views are mentioned, assuming they listen to them, to begin with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it\u2019s healthy to share your opinions and thoughts, aggressive communication is the antithesis of healthy communication. People don\u2019t use aggressive communication simply to relay their thoughts. Instead, this communication style is employed to violate the rights of listeners in a manner that\u2019s widely viewed as abusive. Even when listeners do what aggressive communicators demand of them, the speaker may still try to belittle them and make them feel unimportant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy should I care about your opinion?\u201d and \u201ceveryone should adopt my point of view\u201d are things an aggressive communicator might say to inflict a wound, dismiss contrary viewpoints, and make someone feel small. If you overhear someone saying something similar, you should speak up and force the speaker to listen to your words. Are you an aggressive communicator? If so, you should do your best to express more empathy and a sincere willingness to listen to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This type of communication style is like a blend of the two styles discussed above. People employ this style of communication to passively seem as if they don\u2019t have an opinion, but their messaging is relayed in an indirectly aggressive way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Communicators who employ this means of communication sometimes mutter out loud under the guise of not wanting to be overheard. Passive-aggressive communicators are often reluctant to confront a person with a contrary viewpoint directly, but they\u2019re usually quick to discuss the issue with someone who\u2019s not part of the controversial conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in a relationship with someone who uses this type of communication, they may tell you, \u201cI don\u2019t care, but [insert name] might give a damn,\u201d or, \u201cwe can give your way a try, but I doubt it\u2019s going to be successful.\u201d As a general rule, people with this communication style are often worried about what others will think about their opinions, and they lack the security to disagree with others openly or directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you hear someone make a statement that indicates they use this kind of communication, you have two basic options. You can encourage the speaker to tell you his opinion on the spot. Alternatively, you can try to determine how the individual really feels by deciphering the aggressive part of his statement. If you\u2019re a passive-aggressive communicator, you need to stop beating around the bush, say what\u2019s on your mind, stand behind your opinions, and stop worrying about what others think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experts agree that an assertive communication style is the most effective one. Assertive communicators relay their thoughts and opinions politely while respecting the viewpoints of others. People who communicate in this way have deep respect for the ideas, values, and opinions others hold dear. Assertive communicators normally speak in a calm, controlled voice as they look listeners directly in the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People who employ this style of communication own their words and feelings by using sentences that include the pronoun \u201cI.\u201d Even when they disagree with someone, assertive communicators take responsibility for the blame by using \u201cI\u201d in their messaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assertive communication supports two-way conversation, which is why it\u2019s widely viewed as the most effective type of communication. This communication style often involves speakers who solicit feedback and employ active listening skills to facilitate the flow of conversation, information, and ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think we should forge ahead,\u201d \u201cI respect your opinion even though it doesn\u2019t align with mine,\u201d or \u201cwhat other options can you think of?\u201d are some of the things you may hear an assertive communicator say. To be an assertive communicator, you need to be honest and a capable active listener who has an \u201cagree to disagree\u201d mindset. As the name of the communication style implies, you also need to be assertive with your thoughts and opinions while maintaining a polite, open-minded attitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How people receive what you relay is a big part of communication in general. Some people respond to information by talking, crying, or getting mad. Others might respond by touching your arm or patting you on the back. While you might know how you respond to certain types of messaging already, you need to know how the people you\u2019re in relationships with respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing how a loved one reacts to certain types of information can help the two of you establish greater trust and enhance the physical and emotional intimacy you share. To improve the communication in romantic relationships, it can help to observe the way your partner receives messages for a few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Does your significant other respond most to visual cues? If so, she might not get the right message if you relay information using your words or other auditory cues. Instead, your partner might correctly interpret your message if you look her in the eyes, alternate between facial expressions, and make hand gestures. If your SO responds best to touch, you may want to rub her forearm or give her a hug while you\u2019re telling her that you love her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you familiarize yourself with the way your SO responds to messages, you\u2019ll be able to fine-tune the way you communicate with her. Better communication between the two of you can bring you closer together as a couple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can learn a lot about the way a person communicates by doing things with the individual. If you\u2019re in an intimate relationship, we suggest you and your SO embark upon some adventures that will give you plenty of opportunities to communicate to secure a positive outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adventures from Scratch: Date Edition<\/em><\/a> includes 50+ adventures that will require you and your partner to work together to complete. While each adventure has a different objective, they\u2019re all fun and meant to deepen the bonds that exist between you and your significant other. Perfect for date nights and romantic day trips, our couples’ adventure book is a must-have for any duo trying to improve their communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you trying to improve the way you communicate with your kids as well as your partner? If so, we encourage you to order a copy of the Adventures from Scratch: Family Edition<\/em><\/a>. Whereas our couples adventure book includes adult-themed adventures, our family adventure book includes challenges that are perfect for children of all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like our couples\u2019 book, the family adventure book consists of a series of scratch-off challenges. Once you choose an adventure, you\u2019ll scratch off your goal. After you know what your family needs to achieve, all your family members can work together to complete the challenge. As you all work together, everyone will have the chance to communicate their thoughts and ideas and receive messages from others, which can improve the way your family communicates overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Humans have six basic needs. Those needs include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While humans have the fundamental needs just mentioned in common, not everyone values each of them equally. For example, your SO may prioritize her need for connection and love more than she concerns herself with variety. The key to improving the way you communicate is to identify the needs that mean the most to your partner so you can communicate with her in a way that she\u2019ll find fulfilling and satisfying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to note that human needs vary according to elements of masculinity and femininity. People with masculine energy normally need to feel as if they\u2019re appreciated, and you can relay that sentiment by praising your SO. Individuals with this sort of energy are independent and uninterested in being controlled. They\u2019re also waiting for you to open up to them, so go ahead and share your affection and emotions openly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By contrast, people with feminine energy need to feel as if they\u2019re seen by their partners. You can convey that you see your SO by being fully present in the moments you share with her. Individuals with this type of energy also crave understanding and security. To show your SO you understand, validate her feelings. If you want your partner to feel safe and secure, protect her physically and emotionally while you reassure her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understand that masculine energy and femininity energies aren\u2019t defined by gender, meaning a woman can have masculine energy just as readily as a man might have feminine energy. You need to figure out which type of energy your SO has so you can adjust the way you communicate with her so that both of you remain content in your relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of the nature of the relationship you share with someone, it\u2019s crucial that you break any negative communication patterns you\u2019ve adopted over the years. Speech basically consists of four components that are all within your control, pitch, pace, volume, and timbre. The next time you\u2019re in a heated disagreement with someone, pay attention to those four things so you don\u2019t perpetuate ineffective patterns that can permanently damage your relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pitch refers to whether your voice errs on the side of being squeaky or low and silky-smooth like the voice of James Earl Jones. If Darth Vader had told Luke that he was his father in a high-pitched tone, he may have come across as defensive. Even worse, Luke and the audience might have perceived him as immature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If Vader had proclaimed, \u201cLuke I am your father,\u201d but ended the declaration at a high pitch, Luke might have thought his antagonist was asking whether his statement was true. That could have added more confusion and doubt to an already confusing situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pace is a reference to how quickly or slowly you speak. If you\u2019re in an argument and speak too quickly, your opponent may miss some of what you say and misinterpret your message as a result. That misinterpretation may lead to more arguing and hurt feelings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To get your point across accurately, take a deep breath and slow down. Address your combatant in a calm manner with measured, slowly spoken words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volume accounts for how loudly you\u2019re speaking. Too often, people engaged in a disagreement suffer from volume creep, which means they keep talking louder in an effort to drown out another person. That\u2019s a shame because volume creep often leads to yelling, misunderstood messages, and hard feelings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, being louder than someone else is a far cry from being the superior communicator. If someone else is speaking, even if you don\u2019t agree with what they\u2019re saying, be quiet and let the person finish instead of trying to talk over him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Timbre refers to the tone of your voice along with the attitude and emotion your voice conveys. You need to pay close attention to your voice\u2019s timbre so that you don\u2019t deliberately or inadvertently send messages that have the potential to ruin the trust you\u2019ve established with the person you\u2019re speaking to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s go back to our galactic traveler Luke. If Darth Vader were a loving father and he\u2019d said, \u201cI love you, son,\u201d or anything kind using a heartfelt voice, maybe his son would\u2019ve embraced the Death Star. Since Darth Vader\u2019s tone of voice was always menacing and he had a pretty bad attitude about the lives of others as was demonstrated when he tried to kill Luke and froze Hans Solo, Darth Vader probably would\u2019ve benefited from lessons from a timbre coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being a good listener is key to maintaining healthy relationships. To be a good listener, you should practice active listening. Passively hearing what someone says is not the same as actively listening to the person\u2019s message. Active listening is a manner of attentive listening that keeps you engaged throughout a conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you listen actively, you hear what\u2019s being said without judging the message or the speaker. You resist filling silence with empty words. As an active listener, you never detract attention away from the speaker with silly anecdotes or tales of your own similar experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You do ask questions about the topic at hand, however, and you verbally reflect on what\u2019s been said. Active listeners demonstrate they\u2019ve heard what was said by summarizing the information a speaker shares. Non-verbal communication is a big part of effective communication in general and active listening in particular as it allows you to show the speaker you\u2019re fully immersed in what she has to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Active listeners are often like therapists. What that means is that they act as sounding boards. Instead of sharing their own throughs, opinions, and experiences, active listeners only speak when their words are directly and exclusively related to what a speaker has to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to recognize that listening actively is not the same as critical listening. In the case of the former, the point is to provide support, empathy, and understanding, not opinions or solutions. When it comes to critical listening, the goal is to evaluate what a speaker says so you can render an opinion about the message or offer a solution to the person\u2019s problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re actively listening to someone, you should refrain from switching the subject abruptly when the person has wrapped up their presentation. If you switch topics quickly, the speaker may feel as if you don\u2019t care about the message she just delivered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Effective communication can have life-changing benefits for partners, including improvements in individuals’ mental health. Contrarily, a lack of communication in relationships<\/a> could be extremely damaging.<\/p> <\/div> Communication can have different effects, and the impacts are largely dependent on delivery. Communication styles include passive<\/a>, aggressive<\/a>, passive-aggressive<\/a>, and assertive<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div> Some tips for improving communication in relationships<\/a> include being cognizant of how messages are delivered and received, and using conversation prompts, such as those found in Adventures From Scratch<\/a><\/em>.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Communication in relationships can have life-changing benefits for partners. Learn about communication styles and how you can improve your interactions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":7754,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\n\n\nA Breakdown of Communication<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Benefits of Healthy Communication<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Expectations and Boundaries<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Look at Over-Communication<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tips for Effective Communication in Relationships<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Be Aware of Differing Communication Styles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Passive Communication<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Aggressive Communication<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Passive-Aggressive Communication<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Assertive Communication<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. Observe the Way Others Receive Your Messages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Go on Adventures Together<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Remain Cognizant of Basic Human Needs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Break Negative Communication Patterns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pitch<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Pace<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Volume<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Timbre<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
6. Practice Active Listening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n