Communication Skills

There are many family relationships that typically don’t work to their full potential. It’s because families are not communicating strong enough or effectively strong enough with one another. Communication is all about being able to build better relationships between the different family members.

Communication is the foundation of any relationship. Without it, relationships suffer.

It's easy to communicate when everything is going well, but communication becomes more difficult when problems occur. If problems are left untended, relationships and communication can deteriorate.

Communication is not one-sided. Both parties must contribute, and both must be willing to compromise. Communication is a two-way street.

Likewise, communication can happen at all different levels — from simple conversations all the way to deep, meaningful conversations.

The first step in improving communication is understanding it.

The following seven tips can help you improve communication in your household, between family members, or between you and your spouse.

1. Listen to what the other person is saying.

Listening is the foundation of communication. But it's easy to get wrapped up in our own thoughts while another person is speaking. This disrupts the flow of communication. So when you're listening to someone, stop thinking. Listen.

2. Ask questions.

Communication involves an exchange of information, and asking questions is the key to getting the information you want. But beware: Asking questions doesn't always mean you're communicating. Sometimes it simply means you're gathering information.

3. Clarify what the other person means.

People often say things they don't realize they meant. So it's important to ask questions to clarify what the other person meant.

4. Let the other person finish.

It's natural to want to jump in when you're speaking to someone. But it's important to let the other person finish what they are saying. If the other person speaks slower, let them finish. If they need time to clarify, let them finish.

5. Give feedback.

After listening, asking questions, clarifying