The Importance of How to Communicate: Communication Styles

Conflicts or debates are part of our daily lives. They can arise in a conversation with a friend, in discrepancies with a co-worker, or in the family environment with our children. When these conflicts appear, they often come loaded with emotions that can hurt the other's feelings without us being aware of how we got to that point.

However, conflicts aren't necessarily bad. What's important is how we manage them. To convey what we feel, need or think, it is essential to use different forms of communication that help us to resolve conflicts in an appropriate way, creating an environment of trust, empathy and mutual respect.

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Communication Styles

There are three general ways in which we tend to react when communicating: Assertive, passive and aggressive.

1. Assertive Communication: Being assertive involves expressing our feelings, desires and opinions directly and openly, without belittling or punishing others. This style respects both our own needs and those of others. Assertiveness promotes self-confidence and allows for a balanced interpersonal relationship.
2. Characteristics of assertive communication:
3. • Defend your own rights and respect those of others.
   • Use clear body language: eye contact, relaxed posture, visible hands.
   • Use phrases such as: “I think that... “, “I feel like... “, “How do you think we can solve this?”
   • It does not seek to avoid conflicts, but it handles them in a respectful manner.
     
     
4. Passive Communication: Passive communication involves giving up openly expressing what we feel or think, allowing others to violate our rights. Passive people tend to avoid conflict at all costs, but this can lead to frustration and feelings of misunderstanding.
5. Characteristics of passive communication:
6. • Avoid eye contact.
   • Use phrases like: “Maybe I'm not right”, “It's not important”, “You'd mind if...”.
   • They don't effectively express their needs, which can lead to feeling manipulated or ignored.
     
     
7. Aggressive Communication: Aggressive communication involves defending one's rights and opinions in an inconsiderate way, transgressing the rights of others. This style usually includes insults, threats, or humiliation, both verbally and nonverbally.
8. Characteristics of aggressive communication:
9. • It offends or belittles the opinion of others.
   • Use phrases like: “This is what I think, you're stupid for thinking differently”, “What you want doesn't matter”.
   • It may include hostile gestures, such as clenched fists or intense glances.

It is important that, when we notice difficulties in our communication with children or family members, we seek professional support to develop strategies that promote assertiveness. This will not only improve our ability to relate, but it will also strengthen our emotional bonds.