This month’s positive point discusses a simple yet powerful technique that will improve communication in your relationship.
A positive point with a client recently happened when one of the couples I work with got excited about a communication technique I taught them.
In their marriage, the wife tends to talk to her husband (in other relationships, it can be vice versa), especially at times when he is engrossed in doing something. This dynamic often ends in the husband feeling frustrated for being interrupted and the wife feeling unheard.
The technique I taught them is simple, yet so simple it’s often forgotten and unused. If the first partner, before launching into a topic, just asks the second partner if he or she has a few minutes, this common and tension-producing scenario can be avoided.
The mate who is in the middle of doing something has the freedom to say, “I’m in the middle of _________. I just need ________minutes to finish and I’ll be all yours.” The key is for the partner who is occupied to set a firm boundary around the time he or she needs to finish whatever he or she is doing so as to free up time to listen.
The adage, “Timing is everything,” certainly applies to relationships, especially in regards to communication. Assess your partners environment and level of accessibility before you approach him or her, and when you do start talking, ask if he or she has time to be present to listen to you. The self-restraint you put in on the front end will pay off big time on the back end.
Are you looking for ways to strengthen your relationship? Download 10 Sample Texts to Send your Mate!
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