Communication Principles
General information and tips around better communication
Did you know?
Pain affects how we communicate
- Distract & make it hard to focus (e.g., listen to others)
- Bring up negative feelings (e.g., anger) you misdirect at others
- Make you too tired to interact & communicate with others
- Disrupt routine (e.g., work, hobbies) & make you feel you have little to share
- Make you keep silent to avoid “burdening” others
How we communicate also impacts pain
- Not appropriately expressing our thoughts & emotions contributes to:
- Stress (e.g., tension)
- Negative emotions (e.g., anxiety, resentment)
- Being misunderstood
- Not getting our needs met
- Estrangement from loved ones
- Confrontation and hurt feelings
- Worsening of pain
In this module, you will learn about:
- Communication beliefs- and how these beliefs impact social interactions
- Different types of communication styles
- How to be more assertive in communication
Communication beliefs
- Most people have trouble with communication at some time in their lives
- Knowing your challenges can help you to decide where to take action
- What are some common challenges?
- Our thoughts and beliefs about communication affect how we communicate
- It can help to identify your own beliefs about communication
Download and complete the worksheet to learn more about your communication beliefs (.pdf)
Communication styles
There are 4 main communication styles
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- Assertive Communication is the most effective
Download and use the Assertiveness Script to help you communicate with assertiveness
Key concepts:
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Passive communication means not expressing honest feelings, thoughts, needs, and beliefs. Sometimes people will express thoughts and feelings in an apologetic way so that others easily ignore them.
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Aggressive communication means you stand up for your needs rights and express your thoughts, feelings and beliefs, however it is done in a way which is at the expense of and violates the rights of the other person. People often feel upset by an encounter with a person communicating aggressively. Superiority is maintained by putting others down.
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Passive-aggressive communication is a way of expressing our feelings, thoughts, needs, and beliefs indirectly. This style means where someone is really being aggressive, but it is in an indirect way.
- Aim to use an Assertive Communication style. Use the worksheet to help you draft a plan!