'Having Difficult Conversations With Friends'
Interacting boldly and with respect and skill is necessary for healthy friendships
I couldn’t agree with the writer more:
“There is no such thing as a healthy relationship without healthy communication, whether it’s romantic, familial or platonic,” says Mark Travers, Ph.D. and a psychologist, as he writes at Forbes.
“The significance of open and honest conversations in relationships cannot be overstated. In the context of friendships, where camaraderie and shared experiences lay the foundation, the ability to engage in difficult dialogue becomes even more crucial,” he adds.
This article in Communication Intelligence, the Newsletter, swims through Travers’ article to gain better understanding about an evergreen-important topic.
“Hard conversations…,” Travers writes, “enable friends to address issues head-on, clear up misunderstandings and build a foundation of trust that can withstand the test of time.”
That is a formula for healthy communication and strong and healthy relationships.
He breaks down “three practical ways to navigate difficult conversations successfully in a friendship,” and you can click on the link above to read about those methods. I am less concerned about Travers’ recommendations right here than talking about the importance of the behavior communication.
What is vital is that 1) the conversations are happening early on when necessary and 2) they come across in a manner that is clear, direct (but not too sharp), respectful, curious and compassionate. Communication has to be understandable yet delicate and palatable because even in friendships, people are emotional, can be reactive in hurt and punitive if offended.
Use all the facts you want yet do so with caution as to not make your friend feel like you have falsely judged them and are putting them on trial.
Seek to understand first and foremost, with poise and civility, and be willing to listen and try to see their responses from their point of view. You can still be assertive with your concerns and express what you believe are your reasonable expectations, needs and wants from your friendship.
The Communication Intelligence newsletter is produced by the publisher of Communication Intelligence magazine. Subscribe for free or decide on a paid subscription for “extras,” whichever works best for you.
Want to promote yourself and your business in Communication Intelligence, the Newsletter? Contact me at comm.intel.newsletter@gmail.com and communicate your value and offering for $300 for an attractive color ad in one issue, $500 for two issues (I’ll put two ads of yours in one post for $600) or choose $2,000 a month (you get an attractive color ad placement in every new article during that time).
