7 Ways To Improve Communication With Your Partner

It takes two to tango; everyone knows that.

So why do we insist on not acknowledging that when it comes to communication?

Without talking about things, there is no way we can reach a middle ground on any issue, yet many couples are afraid to communicate with each other for fear of “damaging” their relationship.

Here’s how you can improve your communication as a couple:

1. Listen

Most people listen with the intent of responding.

You need to learn how to listen with intent.

It’s a skill many people have not mastered.

If you’re already thinking of a reply while someone else is talking, you’re not really listening to what they’re saying.

So learn to put aside your thoughts for a few moments while you actually consider what they are saying and what they mean by it.

2. Put aside your opinions

When listening to someone’s point of view during a heated conversation, we hear what they say but don’t really absorb it because we’re so caught up in our own opinions.

What you end up hearing is what you “want” to hear and is not necessarily what they actually said.

Tackle this by absorbing what was said and possibly repeating it to them to make sure your understanding of what they said is not clouded by your own opinion.

3. Be honest

A strong relationship requires honesty, which is a key factor in developing strong communication channels.

It may be uncomfortable to reveal the darkest parts of yourself to someone else, but it allows you to move forward as a couple on the same page.

4. Non-verbal clues are important too

The more you get to know each other, the better you will recognize the non-verbal clues you give off.

Learn to recognize what actions like lack of eye contact or folded arms mean, and you will be able to pick up on the sub-text of the conversation much better.

5. Stay focused

Don’t bring older issues into a conversation that has nothing to do with them.

When you sit down to talk about something, try to keep the conversation centered on it.

This is not the time to bring up the fact that your husband has never picked up his towels off the floor, unless that’s what you’re discussing to begin with.

Otherwise, you’ll keep going in circles and end up frustrated with the lack of progress in reaching a resolution.

6. Try to keep emotion out of it

It’s easy to get emotional when talking about life-altering decisions, but once one partner gets emotional, the other one will too.

And emotional people cannot make rational decisions.

Try to keep emotions out of difficult conversations by focusing on the facts.

7. Be willing to back off

There are times when you will not agree on something.

Instead of forcing one person to admit they were “wrong”, sometimes it is better to value the relationship more than a “win” and just back off.

You will not agree on everything, and it is better not to force some issues.

Communication is about more than just talking.

When communicating, both parties need to be aware of each other’s feelings and try to listen to what is being said before responding.

Try to get on the same page with open communication, and you will see your relationship thrive.