Step 1

COMMUNICATION

Communication is essential for healthy relationships. That’s why you’ll be happy to know that we have been working on communication all throughout this program. However, it is important that we make sure you have the key principles. They can be a bit tricky.

LISTEN - Good communication is like a tennis match that goes on forever with no winner. It has rhythm. It has turn taking. One person's move dictates the next move. Anything that disrupts this rhythm messes up the game.

GETTING CREDIT FOR LISTENING - How do you show the other person you've been listening? Well, you act like you are listening, you comment on what they said and you show you are trying to understand their position. All these features are important.

STARTING A CONVERSATION - How about when WE have something to say? When we want to talk with someone, we usually have an opinion about what we would like to happen when the interaction is over. In a conversation, we only control our own behavior. We can't control what other people do or how they feel.

This section includes "Tip Boxes", "Perfectionist's Corner" and clear examples of "What to Do" and "What NOT to Do".