Communication: The Key to Maintaining All-Round Good Relationships

Good communication plays an important role in our relationships, and is an essential part of any healthy partnership. All relationships go through rocky paths every now and then, but healthy communication makes it easier to deal with conflict and to help build a stronger and healthier bond between partners.

Talking is essential, no matter how well you know each other, because you cannot read your partner’s mind. It is essential to avoid misunderstandings that may cause hurt, anger, resentment or confusion, so you should double check your understanding of what your partner is saying and try to avoid distractions when communicating.

Just as we are different in one way or another, there are several ways of communicating and you should find one that suits your relationship. It is important you let your partner know exactly how you feel the best way you can and make sure he or she gets the message. Healthy communication styles require practice and consistency. Communication may not be perfect all the time, but it can go a long way in preserving your personal, work, and other relationships.

When we communicate, we can say a lot without speaking. Our body posture, tone of voice and the expressions on our face all convey a message. These non-verbal means of communicating can tell the other person how we feel about them.

Listening is a very important part of effective communication. A good listener encourages their partner to talk openly and honestly.

It's advisable to take a time out if you are feeling really angry about something and address the issue when you’re calm.

Here are some tips on how to manage conflict with communication:

• Avoid using the silent treatment.
• Don’t jump to conclusions.
• Discuss what actually happened.
• Don’t judge.
• Learn to understand each other, not to defeat each other.
• Talk using the future and present tense, not the past tense.
• Concentrate on the major problem, and don’t get distracted by other minor issues.

It is better to act early and talk to someone about your concerns, rather than wait until things get worse.

If you’re not comfortable with the state of your relationship, take some time out, ease the tension with a nerve calming massage and discuss your way back to understanding. Our new location at The Yacht Hotel, Lekki Phase 1 has the perfect ambience for productive communication and you should totally take advantage of it. Book an appointment now!