Effective Communication is good, right? Personally, I believe it’s next to impossible to have a healthy, rewarding relationship without it. Sure, the level of required relationship communication depends on your level of intimacy with the person you are communicating with. But, can open communication ever be destructive, even when the communicator thinks they are providing a helpful message for the recipient? I would say it all boils down to knowing your audience. Think about what you are about to convey, and then try to predict how your recipient is going to react. Is the message sensitive or volatile enough to destroy the relationship you currently have? If so, it’s best to think twice. Sounds simple enough, right?

Take this story, for example. I know a woman that, for her whole life, carried resentment about how her father raised her. This story begins when she was 50 years old and her father was 72. She felt she had not been nurtured and supported as much as she needed when she was growing up. Her father was a “hard-liner”. We all know the type. A man made of mostly discipline and not enough encouragement, keeping his feelings to himself. Something compelled the woman to spill her guts and write her father a letter. In this letter she described how she felt about her relationship with her father. She pointed out many of the shortcomings in her life and how she felt he was the cause of them because she “didn’t get what she needed from him”. She pointed these things out in a very polite manner; obviously assuming her father would understand and feel compassion for her. What actually happened was quite the contrary. The father was very angry after reading her letter and felt he was being attacked. What was once an acceptable relationship was now broken beyond repair. At the time the daughter wrote the letter, she thought it would benefit her to get those things off her chest and didn’t take time to ponder how her father would deal with such things.

The case above could be considered “bad communication” as it damaged the relationship it was meant to improve. Here are some things you might want to consider before initiating a discussion with someone, especially when your message contains sensitive, blaming or potentially negative information.

1. What do you expect to accomplish with your message?

2. Try to predict how your audience will respond. Are you prepared for an unexpected outcome?

3. Is it so important for you to get your message across that it’s worth the risk of breaking the relationship? In some cases it may be, such as a case with a friend or spouse.

4. If you predict that your message may cause undesirable results, you may want to use a good friend or family member as a sounding board, so you can clear your head of your thoughts. Even more so, it can be very beneficial for you to write the person a letter but never deliver it. I believe this works better than spilling your guts to a third party.

5. You can ask advice from a trusted friend or family member (especially if they know the recipient of the message). However, always make the final decision on what to do. Your advisor probably has nothing to lose and may not give you proper advice in the matter.

Relationship communication is important in everyone’s life, whether with friends, family, business associates or complete strangers. For that reason, care should always be taken on how to communicate sensitive information. Can communication be a bad thing? I think it always depends on the circumstances. Sometimes you need to choose to hold back or potentially lose the relationship.

Carl Herkes
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/communication-in-relationships-is-there-such-a-thing-as-bad-communication-10767.html

Related Blogs

• Communication and Info on the Go: Adults and Cell Phone …
• Reference Shelf: Interactive Map and Related Resources: Where is …
• Social Networking increases use Mobile App | Celebrity news …
• Benefits and Disadvantages of the Beneficiary Trust | financebis
• Economic Principals » Blog Archive » One Thing at a Time
• Beginning Blues Guitar | Blues Fanatic
• Baseball-Reference Blog » Blog Archive » Going To The Well A Lot …
• Baseball-Reference Blog » Blog Archive » Ryan Howard's 4 extra …
• Infinity Reference 6832cf 6 x 8/5 x 7-Inch, 180-Watt High …
• Good thing Barton apologized for his apology remarks
• Professional Sex, Competitive Yoga, and the Need for Positive …
• Employee Communication: 5 Tips to Engage Employees | WomansIndex.net
• Yoga Therapy In Kerala | Weight Loss Moz
• Have an Example of a Creative Reinforcement? » TheOtherEndoftheLeash
• Motivation, Consistency and Reinforcement in Dog Training | All …
• Irvine Trust Lawyer – Trust Guide
• ProWomanProLife » Therapy
• Magnetic Therapy Gains In Popularity | Health
• Wireless Communication | News Database
• As it was in the beginning… | Liturgy

Cross cultural communication is not an exact science. When you begin a cross cultural business conversation for the first time, you cannot be sure where it will end. Within cultures people are different. There are different ways of saying hello within the same cultural group.

Most people do not fully understand the way how differences in cultures impact communication. Some people enter a cross cultural conversation without making any concessions. Some go as far as behaving as if everyone is from their home town.

Other people are excessively studious and read up on specific local habits. They will want standardized answers on what to bring if you are invited to dinner, how to dress, when to arrive, what to say.

How can you prepare for your first intercultural meeting?

Both of these methods have their downfalls. The best way to go into your first cross cultural communication is to be relaxed. Be yourself. Let yourself be very open to meeting this new person. If you take a whole brain approach during to your first meeting, with a non-assuming quient inner confidence, you can expect to have a positive meeting.

Allow your right brain to become very in tune with the other person’s emotions. Does he appear to be at the same place in your relationship as you are? Open yourself up to communication with this other person. Adapt your response to his.

With your left brain, look at the scene from a different perspective. Is this an interactive dialogue? If something seems out of place in your conversation, ask your left brain if there is something you can do to improve communication. Do not go overboard. Let your left brain keep control of your actions.

Appearing warm and communicative, ready to initiate conversation, and doing the appropriate thing for both parties will ensure great communication.

By the way, if you are asked to dinner in a different cultural environment, don’t go overboard. Simple ask your host what would be appropriate to wear, and when to arrive. And then ask their secretary, your hotel concierge, someone local, as to what they would bring to the dinner, what they would wear, when they would arrive.

And remember, a respectful relationship goes down well in all cultures.

Cindy King
http://www.articlesbase.com/international-business-articles/communication-across-cultures-is-better-with-a-whole-brain-approach-707277.html

Although infidelity changes a relationship drastically it doesn’t have to mean a break up if that’s not what you want. It isn’t easy to rebuild what you once had but it is possible with the right tools and information.

A cheating mate will devastate not only their partner but in most cases their entire family. Their mate feels a wide range of emotions including but not limited to betrayal, sadness, hurt, loneliness and depression. These things are very hard to overcome and can take a very long time to work through. Forgiving is one thing but forgetting is something else entirely.

The bottom line is you can rebuild the relationship but basically you have to start over from square one. It’s much easier to do with the right set of tools and information because there are so many things you can learn that will help you be successful.

You can learn how to make the changes necessary to rebuild your relationship and make it stronger than ever.

Learn how to stop an argument before it even starts.

Learn how to make your relationship whole again even after an affair.

Learn how Effective Communication can heal old wounds.

Learn a method that is almost like setting the clock back to a previous time.

Learn how to start again fresh.

Learn how words can work like magic in healing your broken relationship.

These are all crucial things that you must get a grip on in order to heal and rebuild your relationship. Like I said earlier, trying to fix a relationship after an affair is a tough road although many take on the challenge every single day. It’s simply a matter of how bad you want it to work.

Scott Sickles
http://www.articlesbase.com/breakup-articles/does-infidelity-always-mean-the-end-of-a-relationship-699487.html

For anyone raising children, learning the art of communication with teenagers is an absolute necessity.

Many of us take good communication for granted and little thought is given to the effective use of communication and all the things this involves.

When it comes to our children, the art of communicating with teenagers is one skill that all parents should develop for a better relationship and happier teenager

The art of Good Communication – Things to Consider

As in good communication with our peers, the art lies not just in how you express yourself verbally, but also your body language and your listening skills, the latter of which is often left out when communicating with teenagers.

Some of us find it difficult to adjust our communication skills from that which is required when our children were in 3rd grade to the firm yet respectful communication that is required when they become teenagers.

Most of us will admit we don’t always get it right so here are a few simple tips on the art of communication with teenagers.

The Art of Communication with Teenagers – Are you Listening?

How many times have you been in conversation with your teenage son or daughter and realized that you’re note really listening? You start of well enough, and at the outset they have your full attention, but before you know it, your mind is elsewhere.

It is all too easy to say ‘I hear you’, but are you really listening – the two really are completely different things!

Your teenager deserves your full attention when communicating, in the same way you expect their full attention. The art of communication is a two way thing – so think about the message you are sending to your teen when it is clear to them they only have half your attention.

The Art of Communication with Teenagers – Validate Your Teens Feelings

When your teen comes home, hating their science teacher, their best friend, or the world in general what they don’t want to hear is ‘No you don’t’. Your teen is expressing a feeling which they need to have validated, not dismissed.

The art of communication with teenagers is allowing them to vent their emotions much in the same way that a counselor allows a client space and a listening ear when they present with a problem.

Try not to dismiss their feelings out of hand, allow your teen to share their feelings with you in their own way within the limits that you set as appropriate behavior.

The Art of Communication with Teenagers – Avoid Criticism

There is many a damaged adult walking around today with parental criticism from their childhood ringing in their ears.

If there is only one thing you take on board about the art of communicating with your teenager it is this – criticize your teens behavior but never your teen.

There is a whole world of difference between ‘what you did was very stupid’ and ‘you are stupid’.

Sentences beginning with ‘why’ or ‘you’ are more like to end up as critical statements that only serve to attack your teen and put them down.

Instead try to get your teen thinking about the consequences of their behavior and choose language aimed at provoking thought. Try to start sentences with ‘I need’, ‘When you’ ‘It makes me feel…’

The Art of Communication with Teenagers – Respect

In the same way that it is important to validate your teen, it is also important that you respect their thoughts, feelings, needs and desires.

By showing them respect, teaches them to respect themselves and in turn respect others. It also teaches them that they matter and have something to offer.

Teens respect boundaries. Be clear with your teen about what you expect from them and what they can expect from you. Ensure they understand there are consequences to their actions and when they go off track ensure the punishment fits the crime.

Don’t make threats you cannot keep.

And Finally…

Praise, Praise and More Praise

From childhood all the way through their teenage years and beyond, your child can never have enough

praise.

When you praise your teen your are nourishing their self worth and raising their self esteem which will in turn help them to grow into a confident adult sure of themselves and their ability to achieve the things they set out to do.

The art of communication with teenagers is a legacy you can pass on. The way you communicate with your teen will dictate the way they communicate with others.

Sacha Tarkovsky
http://www.articlesbase.com/relationships-articles/the-art-of-communication-with-teenagers-81341.html

Seriously….1 1/2 years?! Goodness I can’t imagine how they’ve even been together for that long with their poor communication.

If you have sex, how long should you wait to call the other person and does sending a text message count instead?

What are the reasonable boundaries for communication in the dating relationship?

thats definitely a norm that you form from relationship to relationship. i myself found it hard to deal with the pressure of seeing my friends and roommates have certain "communication patterns" with their boyfriends and it made me rethink my situation with my (unfortunately on again off again). it comes down to what makes you happy. you can in fact have a functional relationship that doesn’t have to follow a scheduled pattern of communicating. basically if you two are open about things, you should ask his opinion. make sure you’re both on the same page and DEFINITELY make sure that there is trust. it seems that trust is an issue when it comes to not communcating.

How important do you rate communication in a relationship, or a marriage? If this is not number one on your list, it is very possible that you and your partner will not make it together, forever. There are questions to ask before ending a relationship.

Actually, the questions should be asked at the start of your relationship. It has been estimated that 83% of divorces would not take place if couples asked each other the right questions while they were still dating, and more importantly after they were married. And it’s sad to say, but a true fact that if the correct questions were asked while dating, there never would have been a marriage to begin with. You could have been on your way to the person you were truly compatible with a lot sooner.

How compatible are you and the person you are with? How are you going to find this out? Just because you have a few things in common, like the same type of foods, and music does not mean that you can have a lifetime future together.

Do you know why your mate does or doesn’t attend church? Do you know how they really think about the way you dress, the people you associate with, or your political views? It’s simply called “getting to know one another”.

Why do you think over half of all marriages end in divorce? Couples use the excuse “you’ve changed”, when really they never took the time to get to know each other in the first place. If you have run in to any of these same problems, then I would recommend to you 1000 Questions For Couples.

You will find hundreds of fun “getting to know you” questions in 1000 Questions For Couples, but there are also important questions that most people don’t bother to ask, or even think of asking. But they are absolutely necessary if you want to stand a better chance at a happy relationship.

After going through the questions, you will discover what all irritates your partner, what makes them blue, and what things your sweetheart is passionate about. You need to get to know all sides of your special someone, and decide if that person then is right for you, your values and your beliefs.

If you and your partner answer all the questions found in 1000 Questions For Couples, I guarantee that you will know each other better than 99% of all couples on the face of the earth. Your relationship should be worth the time it will take to really get to know them. Simply ask the 1000 Questions For Couples at the start of your relationship, and there will be no need for questions to ask before ending a relationship.

Larry Buhrandt
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/questions-to-ask-before-ending-a-relationship-705833.html

There is nothing more rewarding that being involved in a loving relationship. Life is made complete by sharing time with someone who offers and accepts support, enthusiasm and pleasure, whether a platonic friend, a family member or an intimate partner. It’s a feeling that we hope will last until the end of time. Loving someone is easy, but it takes care and effort to make the feeling last.

Life’s greatest joy can lead to great sadness and distress if one or both partners fail to address the basic elements of a good relationship. While relationship problems can be extremely stressful, they do not necessarily lead to ultimate failure. If both parties are willing, there is always the chance to fix the problem and revive the relationship.

When problems arise, it does take a little extra effort to keep your relationship intact. Many couples take things for granted, hoping and assuming that their problems will fix themselves or simply disappear. These couples will ride the wave, then reconcile without stopping to examine the cause of the problem or consider solutions to the problem.

This sense of indifference can create an unnecessary series of problems for many. In reality, many relationship dilemmas can be solved rather easily through caring discussion. Others difficulties can require the help of a counselor or mediator. Couples often find that professional guidance helps them to recover their relationship, enable them to discover different ways to work out their problems, and resolve to keep the problem from reoccurring. It is essential that every couple deal immediately with their problems, to get back on the right path and begin improving the relationship. If you still hold feelings for your partner, find a way to relight the fading intimacy of love.

Relationships are a natural part of human existence, as are relationship problems. Few people, if any, have experienced a purely problem-free relationship. There are several basic causes to these partnership breakdowns.

Experiencing close intimacy can give us moral support and joy, but being too close, or being “smothered” by a partner, can create a source of grief, disappointment, jealousy or misery.

Another common cause of relationship stress is the natural fluctuation of attraction. Sometimes we anticipate seeing our partner and are overjoyed at spending time together. At other times, we are passive and not overly eager. Or we might not feel the need or desire to see a partner, wanting simply to be alone. The natural ebb and flow of these feelings can definitely strain the relationship, but little can be done to control it.

Relationships can also be negatively affected by outside influences, like work demands or financial stability. These are two of the greatest sources of relationship strain, but unfortunately they are necessary evils in life that we can’t do without. Our jobs, and our money, provide the basics of life. Man, and woman, cannot live on love alone.

Differing goals and opinions are also potential relationship killers. If what we expect from each other varies greatly from one partner to the next, relationship problems will most certainly surface.

There are many complex issues that can cause wear and tear in our relationships, but only a few tried and true ways to treat them. Good communication, effective problem solving, mutual support, patience, and the willingness to spend quality time together are steps to solving virtually any relationship problem. Practice these with your partner, and eventually you will find that you are growing together.

Patricia Johnson
http://www.articlesbase.com/relationships-articles/solving-relationship-problems-80610.html

A relationship without open communication will inevitably give way to deception. There is no grey area. It is better to hurt another with open communication than to betray with deception. You will find that even the act of open communication prevents deeds that would normally be performed under the veil of dishonesty.

A relationship is a gentle lowering of individuality or Ego. A free flow of ideas, perceptions even insecurities should come to the surface and be discussed. In the ideal environment, no taboo or perceived craziness is outside the limit of open discussion. All taboos are society’s programming anyway- which is far from open at the present time. Even governments and companies have not recognized the power of open communication with their people.

To suddenly start being open after a long period of hiding is far more difficult than being open on a regular basis. But inevitably this line has to be crossed, and accepted. An environment suitable for revealing all is the first stage of open communication. Both parties must be willing to hear anything and refrain from allowing their Ego to jump into the fray; to judge, feel hurt or angry.

Next comes regularity. At first the impulse to be dishonest “in order to protect someone” will be strong. This is the first stage of dishonesty that is justified has being beneficial to the other person. Slowly this nurtures roots of deeper deception. If the root is cut while it is young and even little white lies are absorbed by the light of open communication – no lie can ever grow.

Does this mean one can share all thoughts, all ideas, or beliefs with anyone? It should. For now you’d get locked up or thrown into an institution as a madman. But there will come a time when society’s contract with dishonesty and illusion gives way to a deeper understanding of open communication. In the meantime there can be a selective agreement of open communication between a single couple, a single family, a single company and it’s employees, between a single government and it’s people before finally the whole world accepts the idea as norm.

Everyone may not like the idea at first, preferring to hang on to the perceived power that comes through lying. It is they who will prefer to go to war when the truth has been set free. Granted, there is a fine line between loose lips that sink ships and open communication in the spirit of greater love between two enlightened individuals. Open communication does not mean running the mouth like a loose cannon. It means selectively choosing your words in a way that will bring about greater harmony between yourself and another party. And avoiding the acts that would disrupt that harmony whenever possible. And in the rare cases where a controversial decision must be made in haste and a decision was made in error, it can quickly be discussed, accepted and learned from.

Most great tragedies begin with a small deception that gets cultivated over time. If you can learn to be open even when on the surface it appears that it will not serve you, over time you become the person that can always be depended on for the truth. And because the truth is a power sought from the depths of every Soul- anyone who possesses it will hold a position of great power. Respected, admired and even revered for their sincerity, and openness even in times when the truth is unpopular and their name risks being tarnished- they rise above the primitive contract of society and peer into a new world waiting on the horizon.

James Stinson
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/the-power-of-open-communication-63195.html