Relationships don’t exist in a vacuum. They exist between two emotional human beings who bring their own past experiences, history, and expectations into it. Two different people also have different levels of skill when it comes to communication. But better communication, because it is a skill, can also be learned.
The most popular myth about communication in relationships is that since you talk to your partner, you’re automatically communicating. While talking to your partner is indeed a form of communication, if it’s primarily about everyday, “surfacey” topics (“How were the kids?” “How was work?” “How’s your mother?”), you’re not really communicating about the important stuff. This article is primarily about how to talk in a more open and rewarding manner with your significant other.
Communication either makes or breaks most relationships. You can improve your relationship today, right now, by putting into practice some of these tips for improving the communication in your relationship.
1. Stop and listen.
How many times have you heard someone say this or read this in an article about communication skills? How hard is it to actually do when you’re “in the moment?” Harder than it sounds. When we’re knee deep within a serious discussion or argument with our significant other, it’s hard to put aside our point for the moment and just listen. We’re often so afraid of not being heard, we rush to keep talking. Ironically, such behavior makes it all the more likely we won’t be heard.
2. Force yourself to hear.
You’ve stopped talking for the moment, but your head is still swirling with all of the things you want to say, so you’re still not really hearing what is being said. Laugh all you want, but therapists have a technique that works very well that “forces” them to really hear what a client tells them — rephrasing what a person has just said to them (called “reflection”).
This may upset a partner if you do it too much, or do it in a tone that suggests you’re mocking rather than trying to seriously listen. So use the technique sparingly, and let your partner know why you’re doing it if they ask — “Sometimes I don’t think I’m getting what you’re telling me, and doing this lets me slow my mind down a bit and really try and hear what you’re saying.”
3. Be open and honest with your partner.
Some people have never been very open to others in their life. Heck, some people might not even know themselves, or know much about their own real needs and desires. But to be in a relationship is to take a step toward opening up your life and opening up yourself.
Little lies turn into big lies. Hiding your emotions behind a cloak of invincibility might work for you, but won’t work for most others. Pretending everything is alright isn’t alright. And giving your partner the silent treatment is about as useful as a fish with a bicycle. In the desert. At night. These things may have “worked” for you in the past, but they are all barriers to good communication.
Being open means talking about things you may have never talked about with another human being before in your life. It means being vulnerable and honest with your partner, completely and unabashedly. It means opening yourself up to possible hurt and disappointment. But it also means opening yourself up to the full potential of all a relationship can be.
4. Pay attention to nonverbal signals.
Most of our communication with one another in any friendship or relationship isn’t what we say, but how we say it. Nonverbal communication is your body language, the tone of your voice, its inflection, eye contact, and how far away you are when you talk to someone else. Learning to communicate better means that you need to learn how to read these signals as well as hear what the other person is saying. Reading your partner’s nonverbal signals takes time and patience, but the more you do it, the more attuned you will be to what they’re really saying, such as:
- Folded arms in front of a person may mean they’re feeling defensive or closed off.
- Lack of eye contact may mean they’re not really interested in what you’re saying, are ashamed of something, or find it difficult to talk about something.
- Louder, more aggressive tone may mean the person is escalating the discussion and is becoming very emotionally involved. It might also suggest they feel like they’re not being heard or understood.
- Someone who’s turned away from you when talking to you may mean disinterest or being closed off.
All the while you’re reading your partner’s nonverbal signals, be aware of your own. Make and maintain eye contact, keep a neutral body stance and tone to your voice, and sit next to the person when you’re talking to them.
5. Stay focused in the here and now.
Sometimes discussions turn into arguments, that can then morph into a discussion about everything and the kitchen sink. To be respectful of one another and the relationship, you should try and keep the discussion (or argument) focused to the topic at hand. While it’s easy to get in the cheap shots or bring up everything that an argument seems to call for, just don’t. If the argument is ostensibly about who’s making dinner tonight, keep it that topic. Don’t veer off down the country road of who does what in the house, who’s responsible for child rearing, and by the way, who cleans the kitchen sink.
Arguments that do veer off tend to escalate and grow larger and larger. One party needs to make an effort at that point to try and de-escalate the argument, even if it means walking away from it, literally. But do so as respectfully as possible, saying something like, “Look, I can see this isn’t going to get any better by discussing it tonight. Let’s sleep on it and try talking about it with fresh eyes in the morning, okay?”
57 comments
Wonderful article, John, especially appreciated point 4 re voice escalating when one doesn’t feel heard.
I notice my voice doesn’t rise unless I’m explaining myself for the 3 or 4th time!
Thanks for the validation and good information.
I have to be careful that I don’t use email and messaging as an easy way to say something. I feel like I should be brave and say it straight to a persons face. People say things via text and email that they would never otherwise say. It can be dangerous and confusing because you can’t see any body language or hear the tone of the persons voice. But sometimes I love using these other methods because they save time and I can plan what I am going to say, so that I don’t freeze in the moment or forget what I wanted to say or ask.
I always have a problem talking to my husband cause if i say to him….. ARE YOU TALKING TO “ANYBODY OR BEEN SEEING ANYONE AN HE WOULD SAY NO” Now what i get upset with my husband i feel like he plays with my mind cause he would say to me i have to ask the right question to get the right answer. Meaning i should of ask him “HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING TO SOME ONE” i should of said that cause he haven’t talk to nobody latley but he did three weeks ago…. He say it’s how i ask him have an are you is two different meaning an i honestly feel like he f***ing with mind… He could of said NO BUT I DID TALK TO SOME ONE THREE WEEKS AGO BUT SINCE HE WASN’T DOING IT AT THAT TIME OR MOMENT THAT MEAN NO…. DO ANYONE FEEL LIKE THAT’S MIND GAMES CAUSE HE KNEW WHAT I MEAN…. BOTTOM LINE I ASK YOU WAS YOU TALKING TO ANY ONE RATHER I PUT IT LIKE HAVE YOU OR ARE YOU…. SO AM I WRONG FOR FEELING LIKE HE F***ing with my mind??? Please some one help me…. I am drving myself carzy cause i really feel like he messiblng with my mind an that’s not right at all…. So please tell me what you think???
You do have a point on this message/email thing Janice however, sometimes people cannot communicate face to face. I find it that messaging may not show my emotions, tone of voice or body language but if I write it carefully using the correct wording, I give the other person the opportunity to hear me out, understand what I’m trying to say and reply. Many times I find it extremely hard to impossible to stop talking and listen to what my partner is trying to tell me during a serious discussion or argument. I can’t help myself! It’s wrong I know it but my right, my thoughts and my feelings at that heated moment stop me from making the effort to stop and listen. Therefore many times writing communication can be the only way of communication (unfortunately)!!
Just listening sometimes for me helps. Letting the other person have there say seems to set the tone of how the discussion goes.It also lets me hear them, I do try the paraphrase method, But I do tell them why I do is because I’m trying to have a clear understanding of there wants, needs, and expectations. It helps to maintain a calm voice when at all possible.
I liked it better when it was just *your* blog, so it would be great if you had an individual RSS feed so I wouldn’t have to wade through some of the other bloggers on this main feed. I have nothing to add about communication.
Regardless of whether a blog is needed, (see Jude) this article has great advice. Having once worded in an acute psychiatric hospital setting, I learned many listening and interviewing techniques. Listening carefully, with full eye contact is extremely important. Staying with a person, hearing every word, clarifying anything that needs more details are all necessary to build a good raport or relationship. The hard part is to keep that attitude going once you get home and start talking with your spouse or partner.
I can’t understand at all. Family is supposed to be a place of mutual support, and people should be kinder and more respectful to each other than to other people. Why would some people pointlessly be mean and say bad things to family members is beyond my comprehension, unless that some of them are always bad-tempered too all the world, but some of them are obviously not.
Sounds good unless you have PDD.
I don’t know in which ways the article would differ, but, I would like to read an article on the same topic that is not specific to communicating with your spouse/partner. I am interested in ways to improve the way I communicate in other types of intimate relationships like friends and family.
Victoria, the principle remains exactly the same no matter who it is you are communicating with. “Stop and listen” is number one rule for a good communication. “Body language and stance” is another good rule for when you are having a discussion, an argument or a simple conversation with anyone. These are basic rules for a better understanding. He is not only talking about spouses/partners here. He is referring to 9 ways of better communication. That’s how I conceived it anyway. x
I strongly disagree with using email or other online and electronic means to communicate with a significant other. Sure it works fine for quick things but not anything large and important.
Great article!
My boss wants to reduce on the costs of labour and I seem to be one of the victims accused of “bad communication” while several tests proved the contrary, my language skills are excellent together with an extreme vision to the future.
Isn’t it strange that two people can have such a different view on what communication is all about and what “good” and “bad” communication is?
While I may or may not disagree there is one point that I feel should be clarified. When someone is speaking to me, I sometimes prefer no direct eye contact. For many this can be a form of perceived agression in a conversation.
Just my thoughts.
for all you couples reading this, this is really good advice! im only a teenager but i’ve also been kind of the mediator between my parents after their separation(we don’t believe in divorce so we’re all trying to sort stuff out).
most of their problems, im not exaggerating, literally MOST of their problems would have vanished if they’d applied these principles:
– neither of them if they’re arguing will listen to eachother(and not just to eachother, but with my siblings and I as well) they’ll just argue their point over and over and not consider what the other is saying!
– if they’re arguing both of them will always forget about the whole reason that they’re arguing and focus on proving themselves right at all costs. they’re also really bad at accepting critcism
– also, both of them do exactly what Grohol talked about in the article, they bring up issues that have absolutely nothing to do with the topic being argued. My mom might say something like “I do all the work around the house and you never appreciate it” and my dad might say something like “you don’t know anything, you’re stupid, you weren’t raised properly”, and etc.
basically what i want to say is, LISTEN TO HIS ADVICE!!!
i just posted and i realized that i sound very mean to my parents. i mean their very good parents and everything and i love them, this is just stuff i’ve observed when trying to figure out why they don’t get along very well. i should also mention i do all of the things my parents do to but i think im a bit more self-aware than they are and hopefully i can stop the bad communication habits =)
No you are doing great. Your parents are also just people. There is no difference between pointing out their deficiencies and pointing out others’, as long as you aim to improve their relationships, your life and their life quality in general. It’s a good-motivation stuff. Where does the “mean” stuff come from? Utter nonsense.
Of course I’m replying a post so long ago so never mind… I think you should have already understood the stuff.
Also such bad parents why would you “love” them at all. They must have done a lot of bad things to your life and you’d better keep a distance with them and live independently, making sure you will become a different person, a better person than they were. Absolutely.
Hi anonymous 🙂 I’m so glad you wrote this comment as you have given me advice without even realising it. You are not accusing your parents, you are just pointing out what makes this difficult when they argue. You see grown-ups (or so we want to call ourselves) have this bad habit of piling things up and when a discussion gets heated and turns into an argument, all those piled up stuff come back to surface and confuse the situation even more. So instead of sticking to one actual point that’s under discussion that specific moment, many past things are raised into that discussion and things get out of hand. Children should never have to witness these arguments as hard as this might be cos most times they don’t know what their parents have been through together or in their lives to behave the way they do whilst having a discussion. So it’s unfair for children to hear raised voices and whatever else comes along in their parents arguments. I’m glad your parents love you and care for you even though they haven’t yet found the way to sort out their issues. As for you, it is so understandable that you have adapted some of this behaviour. Children do adapt behaviours from their parents. It’s the way life is. However, it is up to you how you want to either keep these behaviours or get rid of them and be the person you would like your parents to have been if things were different. Thank you for sharing this post.
All nine tips are good for foundations to improve one’s communication skills. It’s not too often you hear advice like “be playful and humorous” with communication, but it can cut through the tension quickly!
Great tips here! My husband & I will celebrate 40 years in the fall. Our firstborn attended my high school graduation. We’ve been up to the mountaintops and down in the deepest of valleys. As a result, we have made many of these mistakes!
Along the way – we learned these tips through ‘study’, ‘trial & error’ & what I call ‘mean fighting’. Trust me – you will find your way best with much less damage if you choose the study path.
All of the ‘I’m sorrys’ in the world won’t erase the damage done by hurtful words & actions.
Great article–just make sure when you’re reading someone else’s body language you don’t read too much into it. I often fold my arms without thinking about it–not because I feel defensive but because I’m one of those people who is always cold, even with a sweater on in the summer! I also fold my arms when I’m alone, for the same reason.
Wow, this was a great article.
I agree with Laura, I always fold my arms!
Also, I chose to listen to others with not so much eye contact, it lets me concentrate on listening better! People ask me if I’m feeling okay! funny
I find that this advice can be carried to nearly every relationship. I call it my freak radar. If people break these rules constantly, I don’t keep them as friends or (close) family.
And to the Anonymous teenager that posted, you are wise beyond your years, good luck. Just remember you are a mediator, not a fixer, otherwise YOU are impacted too much.
This is a wonderful idea for human communication.But I don’t understand one point forcre yourself to hear.This is because I am not a native.
After months of counseling (basically what this article is saying) with my wife, I have employed many of these techniques (I really don’t want a second exwife). It’s not nearly as easy as it sounds and is still a major work in progress, try coming up with something humorous to say when you’re fuming inside and desparate to defend yourself from some percieved irrational statement/emotion. Worth the effort.
Be yourself. I have seen so many examples where people try to be “fun” but end up losing themselves and become absolutely detestable. Why such a fuss about “fun” and “humor”? If you confidently live your natural life you’ll naturally exude a type of funness that some people would appreciate(“fun” is very subjective, so not everybody can be amused by the same type of person for sure). Even if your type is not that “fun”, still there will be people who appreciate you. What I hate most is the pervasive “fun” stuff in the mainstream culture. It has almost become like a dogma. In the end it just winds up destroying people. Knowing “being funny is nice” is enough, but definitely don’t let it preoccupy you in any way. “Be yourself” instead of “be fun” is the best advice to take, regardless who you are.
No I think in this case you didn’t really get what the author means by “humorous” and “fun”. It is as if you are talking in sarcastic mood, not fully respecting the other side and introspecting on yourself, then of course things will not work out. “Fun” is a natural thing. It only works when you are being *genuine*. Otherwise it will all become sarcasm, which is horrible.
The advice here sounds great. But each has individual problems that provide obsticles to actually doing all of them in the right way. It would be great to have that same support in the marriage as is suggested here. WE have been to a ‘marriage encounter weekend’ and it was only helpful afterwards if both parties are willing to do what is needed to keep the relationship going, but when one wants to keep the ‘dialoge’s going and the other doesn’t it won’t be making the progress intended . These things were also discussed in that weekend in a matter of speaking. So much is needed in this area, for those of faith and those who need to have faith as well. It helps too if you are able to overcome the issues at hand and proceed forward, but each step is different for each couple. Some who have special health needs, or concerns can’t always apply all of these steps as would be desired and adjustments have to be made accordingly. With reference to ‘sitting’ close to each other, in the heat it’s hard to do so when the ‘hot flashes come, and the other can’t handle body heat’, it’s a lose lose situation at hand, when the desire is for a ‘win win’ result .
Great article and I’m sure all this advice would work, but only if both parties are willing to work on their relationship together. If only one person in the relationship is willing to work on getting their relationship on the right track then no matter how great and effective the advice is it will not work for that particular couple.
i think to me the points that are listed below surely matter much the way we use our language and how we approach to one another bse we are not all perfect but we try to adjust to one another as we communicate. but all in all God should forgive us where we go wrong amongst ourselves.
thats all well and good and i agree totally with what is said.. but what do you do when you can comunicate perfectly well but your partner refuses or is unable to cominicate on any sort of level???
Could please tell me that how can you respect a person who don’t respect you
Please help me:
My daughter aged 12 stopped talking to me and my husband and is making screeming sounds when she sees us, she is clinging to us and not able to function normal at all around us. She acts normal with all people except with us. We thought that she was acting, but we realised that she does not have control over it. She is fully aware of what is happening while she is with us – she just cant control it and become limp. She even laughs at jokes I make. But she is now so bad that I have to dress and feed her in the morning when she is with me.
She started with a stuttering problem earlier this year after a camp, and then it got back to normal during June this year. During exam time in September she (according to the doctors) had a panick attack whereafter she suddenly stopped talking to us, which changed into a screeming/ crying tone everytime she sees us. She makes this sound the whole time in our presense and it only stops when we leave and she dont sees us anymore. She gets hysterical and clings to us when we leave. She would be perfectly normal and busy discussing something with a person – until she sees me or my husband – then it is as if it takes her over and she would start making the sounds and start clinging to us – you need to use force to break her grip from us. She wants to kiss and hold us the whole time when she sees us.
We had serious marriage problems (my husband had affairs, drinking etc. but he changed his life a year ago) and by now we know that our marriage problems is the main reason for her behaviour. She admitted to the pshyciatrist that she did this because she is scared that we get divorced, but that she tries her best to talk to us and that she misses talking to me and my husband – but just cant help it.
They’ve diagnosed her with Conversion disorder, said that there is some anxiety disorder and also seoperation disorder – but the question which still needs answering is why she is able to function normal with everybody else and only is like this with us? Is this then really a Disorder? We are currently busy with phileal therapy (spelling?) but she is just not able to talk to us, although she tries very hard.
Interesting is the fact that she has done very well at school, is a fine artist, plays keyboard and very goodlooking. She is a reserved child, but is able to communicate well at school and children loves her. She is our only child.
We’ve been to many many doctors, pshyciatrists, pshycologists and even take her now to people who pray for miracles – nothing helps.
Would you be able to confirm what the problem is and where we can go for help? We are staying in SA but we are prepared to do and take her anywhere in the world – if it can helps. We are currently going for marriage council also and things are happy at home – but she just cant function normal at home….
Please help….
Riana
what do i do when the person i am trying to communicate with wants to talk ALL NIGHT regardless of who is tired??? refuses to give the problem a rest? will talk ALL NIGHT????
PLEASE HELP
Great Advice! I think that the whole thing comes down to letting go of your ego.
how can i get a girl i loved so much but shes is not responding to me but one funny thing is that when i decided within me to go my way she will notice and start behaving as if she is in love with me
Thank you for this article. I’m going to try these tips. This is a problem for me right now. I’m hoping that I can apply these tips. Thanks!
Great article!
My husband and I had some serious problems of communication in the past. At least we were able to communicate and agree that we lack of communication. Hence, we decided to talk to a Life Coach online (can recommend Your24hCoach). It’s pretty much what the coach asked us to do. Especially the body language is often totally undervalued. My husband often talked to me while watching TV. It’s obvious that he didn’t really give his whole attention to our discussion in such a circumstance.
Mostly it’s so easy.. you just have to reserve some time to chat with each other. We for instance just sit together after both returned from work and have a short talk. Then of course honesty and trust are key!
i heard somewhere that nonverbal signals are really important and often say more than what is actually said. so i guess this point is often underrated (when it is possible to see who you’re talking with).
great advice!
you might want to check this out too.
it’s about how to make someone feel heard/understood while making your point without anyone feeling attacked: amandafrances.com/relaxwevegotthis2
I thank God for this information on communication-I am the one who has to be right all the time-and you enlightened me on this point because it shows me that it causes our relationship to be one sided and not really look at my husbands view in the matter-also how my attitude towards him has affected our communication-I thank you and God Bless-
I’ve been through a lot with my relationship..I was blinded by my emotions where i forgot to listen and understand my partner. In reading this article, it helped me realize that i was wrong..all this time I’ve been selfish and inconsiderate about how He feels..Now that i knew where i should start..I’m willing to take a chance to learn and win Him back..Let Him know that i understand..I love him so much..Thank you for your article..Keep helping us..
More power to you guys!
On point 9, I really agree it’s important for both sides to cede as it’s the only way that things can be worked out. However, I don’t agree it’s a “priority” thing, which I find to be quite an strange perspective. It should be paraphrased this way: We should all be able to think on the other’s perspective. The truth is, there is *no way that you are absolutely correct and the other is absolutely wrong*. The world simply doesn’t work like this. Being able to recognize on which part you are wrong and letting the opposite side do the same, you’ll be very fine. However it’s not like “putting the other’s happiness above truth” or stuff. Truth has to be respected, no matter in what kind of situation. If in relationships the truth is not being fully acknowledged then this can only lead to further problems, not “happiness”.
I’m shocked by # 9 I think this is the problem with society these days. Every communication article mentions it as a valid form of communication. it is often misconstrued and taken out of context. Why should I have to pander to ones personal form of communication. Social media blows. Otherwise I will improve on the remaining 8 great ideas. Thanks for offering this great article.
Hi I’ve been in a long distance relationship for 3 years now and we do txt sometimes talk but not all the time and while in this long distance relationship i never meet my partner but i always said to him when he ready but i thought 3 years surely he ready, but it like he not and i don”t want to push the issuse and their are times when there is sometime on his mind but he won;t talk about it it like he shuts me out but he’ll talk to his friends that are girls at times it hurt and get me down but i got to pick myself up what do i do
Question: My significant other ignores me and refuses to hear me when I ask for something. When I address the issue, it starts an argument. We are going to counseling and it help a lot but this last week, he reverted back to ignoring me again. The non verbal ques of course gives it away and it is frustrating. When I ask something from him, he doesn’t commit to it unless I do all the work to set it up. It is hard for me since I have clinical depression and no energy to begin with. How do I get my significant other to stop, listen, and help out more on my bad days? What do I do?
i heard somewhere that nonverbal signals are really important and often say more tha
I haven’t read all the comments so this might be a repeat. 2 comments/questions…
#1: One Article bullet states not to play the silent treatment and to say exactly what’s on your mind. At what point does it not become nagging and complaining?
#2: I love the ending, let’s sleep on it and talk about it. But then you must do just that. Don’t sweep it under the rug because it’s a new day. Not fair 😕
I thought your work was wonderful. We had to read this article for our class “Chritian Excellence.” Your words were well chosen and content easy to understand. Thank you
It’s amazing how some couples never fully figure out how to communicate with one another. It is absolutely integral for any successful relationship.
Hi Mr. John,
Great article, clear and concise.
Incredibly, these are the basics concepts that most people fail to understand and apply, I include myself.
Only with good communication we will find solution to any problem in our relationship.
regards,
Your tips are good, thank you. I made an agreement to not offer advice to my daughter. She is loosing business because she posts too much information on facebook about her travels, another business/interest and I am sure this is affecting her business relationships. I would like to offer a soft opinion – should I stay quiet and watch the situation or
offer an observation? Thank you.
Dear reader and author of the advices: Thank you so much for the good advices!
The problem in my relationship is that I live together with my girlfriend and my two stepchildren 8 (boy) and 11 (girl).
They are so afraid of their father (who is bipolar) that they have to lie about everything when they have done something wrong to not make him angry. My girlfriend lived together with this man for 18 years and he made her feel not loved, not sexy, not worth anything and now that she has been together with me for over a year (we have lived together only 2 months), she expect me to be able to read her like an open book… Why can’t women just tell exactly what they feel instead of demanding us men to be mind-readers???
And when she talks to me shes out in the kitchen and I’m sittin’ in the livingroom, she don’t want me to come to the kitchen and she don’t wanna go out in the livingroom… How can I communicate serious with a person that is 10 meters away from me??
And another problem is that she wants to talk deeply about feelings, but I have always been together with not so smart girls that have liked shallow communication, and I have lived a shallow life being together with more than a 100 girls and she holds that against me now… It is because of her I stopped foolin’ around cause shes the only girl I’ve really truely loved with all my heart! I am so afraid of loosing her so I have suggested that we seek counselling and I wanna do everything to save my relationship! Do you have any advice on how we can stop the need to be right all the time? If we suspect that one of us is right and one is wrong, we look it up on the internet which always hold the correct answer!:-) And how can I become better at reading my girlfriend like an open book?? How can I discover what she is thinking about? She has said that I am not alloved to ask…She DEMANDS I can tell… Please help me! I love my girlfriend! Thanks for taking time to read this from me! Beat regard from Stone in Norway 🙂
You have a problem when both parties don’t agree to talk about communication
My boyfriend and I love one another dearly. But we don’t see things eye to eye. We desperately need help. We have plans for getting married. But we need help. Can you recommend what we should do
There’s only 5 steps?? Number 1 and 2 are basically the same.
u science is not a real science.