Friday, December 17, 2010

How To Communicate With Your Spouse

Communicating with your spouse isn't always easy.

You both have your own ideas and methods for handling conflicts. But then again, there are ways in which the both of you can reach a middle ground. Here's how to communicate with your spouse.

Number one: Give your spouse your undivided attention. Put down everything you're doing that can break your concentration. Maintain eye contact. Looking up at the ceiling or off to the side may give the impression that you are uninterested in your spouse's thoughts, which can spark anger. Listen attentively without causing any interruption. Allow your spouse to complete his or her entire thought, listen with an open mind, and then respond after. Listen without judgment. Remember that a person will not share what's on his or her mind unless he or she feels accepted and safe from negative rebuffing. Be interested and sympathetic, and realize that your spouse may want you to listen to him or her without seeking a solution.

Number two: Be honest. Communication fails when spouses aren't open and honest with each other. You have to be honest with your spouse about your intentions, actions, and your daily rights and wrongs. Trying to hide something in mistruth sets you up for inevitable trouble. Rather than tell the other person what you think he or she wants to hear, candidly express your likes and dislikes, and resolve to keep the relationship strong.

Number three: Make time for each other. Go on dates regularly if you can get away, and really talk to each other. Spend quality time together. Arrange weekly or bi-weekly date nights, and schedule in at least thirty minutes of interrupted couples' time each day.

Keep in mind, though, that communicating with your spouse isn't always about talking. Besides, things are better left unsaid sometimes.


Source:How To Communicate With Your Spouse

8 steps to self-confidence

Find out how confident you really are. Then take action with these eight simple strategies for enhancing yourself.

If I could give a present to every person who wrote to me, what would I choose? No contest. I’d give everyone more self-confidence because I don’t know anyone who couldn’t do with feeling a little better about who they are and what they can do.

Read the following statements to identify how self-confident you are. Answer each question honestly.

1. I’ve always lacked confidence, even when I was a little girl

2. I see myself falling flat on my face – and then I do

3. I typically feel so nervous inside that I sabotage myself

4. However good I feel, I often seem nervous to other people

5. I often feel unsure when I’m doing something new

6. I worry that other people may laugh or disapprove of me

7. I’m confident in some areas, but I feel unsure in others

8. If something feels too big for me, I just collapse under the weight

Each statement highlights a vulnerability. Read the analysis, starting on the next page, for advice on how to improve your self-confidence.

Read more: 8 easy ways to improve your confidence

Continue:Ivillage

Communication Success with Four Personalities

“Know yourself, know others;
one hundred battles, one hundred victories.”

- Ancient Chinese saying

What is human behavior? In what ways are we similar and different? How can we successfully communicate with one-another?

My recently written reference guide “Communication Success with Four Personality Types” is an interpretation of some of the most popular personality tests used by many organizations in hiring, professional development, and performance evaluation. The purpose of the reference guide is to present an overview of four major personality types, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and provide information on how to communicate more effectively with each trait.

The four personality types are: Relater-Supporter, Initiator-Cheerleader, Analyzer-Investigator, and Driver-Leader. Most of us have a dominant personality type, with one or two secondary types. These traits can change and evolve over time.

It’s generally not too difficult to identity the primary personality type of an individual, based on her or his persona, communication style, and to some extent profession.

Here are some of the most dominant traits of each type:

Relater-Supporters tend to be “nice”, supportive, nurturing, and friendly.

Initiator-Cheerleaders tend to be energetic, motivating, persuasive, and fun.

Analyzer-Investigators tend to be detail oriented, task driven, analytical, and matter of fact.

Driver-Leaders tend to be powerful, achievement conscious, control oriented, and productive.

While the dominant personality type of most individuals tends to be fairly easy to observe, the secondary personality type (or types) tends to take some knowing of a person to deduce. Most people have one dominant, one or two secondary, and one weakest type. The resource guide describes each personality in detail, and recommends strategies to communicate successfully with each type as family, friends, co-workers, and customers.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

How Effective Is Communication Skill Training?

Communication skill training is a part of personality development. Communication skills are essential for everyone in their day-to-day life. Communication skill is not just about expressing your point effectively; it is also about understanding what the other person has said. Moreover, Communication skill training is not just meant for corporate world; it can be applied in all your personal interactions, be it with your wife, parents, kids etc.

First lesson in communication skill training discusses about the importance of proper listening. Mostly, when we observe two people talking, we can see that one person is eagerly waiting for other person to stop so that he can start talking, instead of listening to what the other person has to say. You must realize the fact that your communication would have been much better if you had listened to the other person before you start with your points.

Secondly is about body language. There are times when your words suggest something and your body language suggests something else. You need to keep a positive vibe about your presence by keeping the right body language. Make sure that your body language does not contradict what you are about to say. Also, make sure that your body language does not suggest too much negativity or too much aggression. Next, you could do better with your eye contact. Keeping the eye contact while you talk would definitely increase the chances for other person to believe what you say.

Third lesson in communication skill training would be about the language you use. At some times you may use neutral language, and at some other times you may use subtly aggressive language. You can decide on what language is most suited for the occasion. However, a positive, friendly and cordial language is generally preferred for all the occasions. The other person can easily sense the language you may use; so, be conscious before you open your mouth.


THE THREE COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATION

THE THREE COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATION

On a daily basis we work with people who have different opinions, values, beliefs, and needs than our own. Our ability to exchange ideas with others, understand others' perspectives, solve problems and successfully utilize the steps and processes presented in this training will depend significantly on how effectively we are able to communicate with others.

The act of communicating involves verbal, nonverbal, and paraverbal components. The verbal component refers to the content of our message‚ the choice and arrangement of our words. The nonverbal component refers to the message we send through our body language. The paraverbal component refers to how we say what we say - the tone, pacing and volume of our voices.








In order to communicate effectively, we must use all three components to do two things:

1. Send clear, concise messages.

2. Hear and correctly understand messages someone is sending to us.

Communication Involves Three Components:

1. Verbal Messages - the words we choose

2. Paraverbal Messages - how we say the words

3. Nonverbal Messages - our body language


These Three Components Are Used To:

1. Send Clear, Concise Messages

2. Receive and Correctly Understand Messages Sent to Us.

The Importance of Effective Communication

So, what exactly is the importance of effective communication? Why the hype over it?

Effective communication will strengthen your existing relationships and help you to form positive bonds in future interactions.

You probably learned this fact very early on in life. As a baby, you quickly discover that crying will bring your beloved Mommy or Daddy scurrying into your nursery to rock you, feed you or even change your diaper.

You begin to realize that the louder and more often you cry, the faster they will show up at your crib!

This trend continues on to adolescence when you notice that the more you are willing to discuss where you are going with your parents, the better chance you have of receiving a few extra bucks for that weekend movie.

This idea is reinforced throughout your teenage years; you begin to form special bonds with friends after spending countless hours gabbing on the phone with them or discussing life’s ups and downs with the guys on the football field.

Once you become an adult, you understand that communicating effectively will bring you closer to your child, colleague, friend or parent. We all appreciate the special relationships where we can discuss opinions openly without the fear of being judged. Such is the importance of effective communication.

Learning to communicate effectively can also prevent misunderstandings.

Too many people assume the other person knows exactly what they are thinking. And you know what they about this bad habit; when you assume, you make an “ass” out of “u” and “me”.

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