Communicating with Others

Communicating with Others


Everyone has different viewpoints, this is a good thing!

Becoming a young person comes with making more decisions. Sometimes these decisions will be wrong and this is okay. It's important not to be hard on yourself on when you make mistakes, as mistakes can often make room for learning valuable lessons!

Here are some general communication tips:

  • Listen to the other person.
  • Look the other person in they eye and don't interrupt when they are speaking.
  • Remember that everyone has different views and try to respect their opinions.
  • Use "I" statements rather than "you". For example, instead of saying "you made me angry", try saying "I felt angry when you did this...".
  • Avoid shouting, sarcasm and criticising the other person.
  • Try not to assume you know what the other person is thinking. Just listen.
  • Make time to spend together with your friends and family. Have a conversation over breakfast and dinner.
  • If you want your own space then don't be afraid to ask for it. Tell others what you need, you might be surprised how supportive they are!

Because everyone has different views, it's normal to clash with others at times! Having ongoing arguments with others around us however, whether that is our family, or friends, can cause conflict.

Constant nagging, criticism or shouting can make you feel angry, upset, rejected, blamed or unloved. This negative communication can have a huge impact on your mood.

You can change negative communication to positive communication. Try the following:

  • Talk to other person and negotiate how you communicate with each other. It's really important to do this when you are in a calm state. Work out how you can both improve communication and come up with some strategies together.
  • Talk about what is important to argue about and what is not. In other words choose your battles! Some things are not worth arguing over and might be worth ignoring, for example, cleaning up your messy bedroom!
  • Say sorry when you're wrong.
  • Set rules that you are both happy with and compromise on these. If your parents want you home at a certain time on the weekend, decide together what a reasonable time is.