The secret to any good relationship is effective communication. Although effective communication
between partners will appear different for every relationship, there are some fundamental ideas you
should keep in mind. In addition to fundamentals, there are also common errors you should watch
out for in relationships. Here are five communication blunders that every partnership makes, along
with some solutions you can try:
Forgetting to listen
Everyone immediately thinks about talking when we talk about communication. But that’s only half
of the equation. Effective listening is a prerequisite for effective communication. This involves paying
attention to what your partner is saying, participating in what they are saying by asking questions or
making remarks, and allowing them the time and space to express everything they need to say.
Forgetting to listen to your partner is a common communication error in many relationships. A major
communication error occurs when we are sometimes preoccupied with formulating our reaction or
rebuttal that we fail to actually hear our partner out.
Trying to disrupt
You must not only listen to your partner while they are interacting with you, or when they are
speaking to you, but you must also do so without interrupting! Interrupting your partner—or anyone
else, for that matter—is incredibly impolite and will make them feel unable to express their
emotions. Many times, individuals won’t even be aware that they’re interrupting you. People
frequently entirely cut out other people’s mental processes because they are so preoccupied with
their retort or what they want to say. Sometimes people want to answer before you have a chance
to completely express your viewpoint because they anticipate what you will say.
If you discover that your partner is doing this to you, it can be useful to bring it up to their attention
in a calm and respectful manner. This is not always done on purpose. You can refocus the
conversation so that you can finish your thought by using phrases like “can I go back to what I was
saying” or “shall I continue?” Effective communication between the partners requires that both
parties be able to converse for an extended period of time. You and your partner will be able to
communicate better if you respect these standards.
Expecting your companion to have telepathic abilities
Yes, nonverbal communication is a valid type of communication, but verbal communication is still
preferred if there is something you truly need your spouse to know. People frequently believe that if
they drop hints, both subtly and overtly, their partners would eventually figure it out and
comprehend what they want. But this doesn’t happen very often. You will become frustrated and
your needs won’t be addressed if you assume your spouse will understand what you need without
you explicitly stating it. So that your spouse knows how to help you and what you need, use vocal
communication to express your requirements. Most of the time, they’ll appreciate your honesty, and
you’ll appreciate feeling understood and encouraged.
Excessive emphasis on compromise
It’s a popular misperception that reaching a compromise is the best method to resolve a
disagreement. People contend that if there is a dispute, both parties should work toward a win-win
resolution. But in practise, this seldom ever occurs, and putting too much emphasis on compromise
can actually stifle productive dialogue. While reaching a compromise is crucial, you shouldn’t
overthink it during a heated dispute. It may seem easier for those who avoid conflict to keep quiet
and try to resolve it as quickly as possible. However, it is better in the long term to continue the
argument, express your opinions, and make all of your problems known. If you don’t do this, you can
end up harboring resentment or believing your partner doesn’t care about you.
Not taking your partner’s perspective into consideration
It’s important to listen to your partner out and try to get their side of the story when
communicating. Even if you believe that you are correct, it’s crucial to grasp your partner’s
perspective so that you may comprehend how they saw the circumstances and why they behaved as
they did. Consider your partner’s perspective even if there is no argument or disagreement between
you in order to listen to them more compassionately and be a better companion. Refusing to take
into account your partner’s point of view might make them feel excluded from the relationship,
which will inevitably result in poor communication and probably bigger issues as well.
Final Thoughts
There are times when situations reach a breaking point and you are unable to control your emotions
or have a civil conversation. Even though it rarely occurs in an ideal situation, it does. Having said
that, you ought to be able to pick your moments wisely most of the time and refrain from having
blowouts when it’s not necessary. If you have something on your mind that you need to talk to your
partner about, attempt to do so at the appropriate time. While there is never a good time to have a
difficult conversation, you should aim to do it when you and your partner have some alone time
rather than as your spouse is leaving the house.
