Communication KeysCommunication Keys

What is Communication?What is Communication?

Good communication takes Good communication takes place when the message you place when the message you want to convey is received and want to convey is received and understood the way you understood the way you intended so that the intended so that the relationship grows as a result.relationship grows as a result.

Everyone wants to communicate.Everyone wants to communicate.

Solomon on communicationSolomon on communication

Proverbs chapters 15 to 18Proverbs chapters 15 to 18

Communication KeysCommunication Keys

Listening keysListening keys

Have good eye Have good eye contact.contact.

Give focused, Give focused, undivided undivided attention.attention.

Watch your body Watch your body language.language.

Listening keys Listening keys

Listen to the Listen to the message behind message behind the words.the words.

Respond Respond appropriately.appropriately.

More listening keysMore listening keys

Rephrase when not clear.Rephrase when not clear.

Try to understand the other person’s Try to understand the other person’s viewpoint.viewpoint.

Don’t prejudge or mind-read.Don’t prejudge or mind-read.

Be patient.Be patient.

Don’t defend yourself.Don’t defend yourself.

Still more listening keysStill more listening keys

Listen Listen empathetically.empathetically.

Ask appropriate Ask appropriate questions.questions.

Ask open-ended Ask open-ended questions.questions.

Still more listening keysStill more listening keys

Create trust and Create trust and safety.safety.

Keep secrets Keep secrets and private and private matters matters confidential.confidential.

Speaking keysSpeaking keys

Choose or set the Choose or set the right atmosphere.right atmosphere.

Choose the right Choose the right time and place.time and place.

Think before you Think before you speak.speak.

Speaking keysSpeaking keys

Don’t resurrect Don’t resurrect dead issues.dead issues.

Don’t talk too Don’t talk too much.much.

Don't put words Don't put words into the other’s into the other’s mouth.mouth.

More speaking keysMore speaking keys

Don’t be too Don’t be too quick to switch quick to switch topics.topics.

Don’t be artificial Don’t be artificial or superficial.or superficial.

Avoid Avoid interrupting.interrupting.

More speaking keysMore speaking keys

Have a pleasant tone of Have a pleasant tone of voice.voice.

Don’t use “put-downs” or Don’t use “put-downs” or belittling remarks.belittling remarks.

Don’t use generalizations Don’t use generalizations like “You never...” or “You like “You never...” or “You always...”always...”

Still more speaking keysStill more speaking keys

Use “I” messages and not “You” Use “I” messages and not “You” messages.messages.

Be sensitive to the other person’s feelings Be sensitive to the other person’s feelings and needs.and needs.

Still more speaking keysStill more speaking keys

Draw the other person into the Draw the other person into the conversation.conversation.

Don’t attack or use abusive language.Don’t attack or use abusive language.

Control anger and other negative Control anger and other negative emotions.emotions.

Still more speaking keysStill more speaking keys

Speak the truth in love. Eph.4:15Speak the truth in love. Eph.4:15

Sleep on some things. They may not Sleep on some things. They may not seem so important tomorrow.seem so important tomorrow.

Still more speaking keysStill more speaking keys

Talk about the other person’s interests.Talk about the other person’s interests.

Be liberal with compliments, and stingy Be liberal with compliments, and stingy with criticism.with criticism.

ConclusionConclusion

Remember that good communication Remember that good communication takes place when the message you want takes place when the message you want to convey is received and understood the to convey is received and understood the way you intended so that the relationship way you intended so that the relationship grows as a result.grows as a result.