Communication: The Challenges - Part II

I want to continue with what I began last week – how to handle the really challenging communication. One of the participants of the call last month mentioned a conversation she had with someone who was really negative. As much as the YLC participant tried to pull the individual away from the negativity and to a more positive subject, the negative person kept coming back to the negative place.

I want to reiterate what I said last week, compassionate communication does not mean “helping” someone see the “light”. It is not our job to teach someone how to be compassionate or to “make” them positive. Our job as compassionate communicators is to be compassionate with them, right where they are and to help them feel heard and understood.

This can be particularly difficult when the individual is not hearing you. I am beginning to see that truly compassionate communication is when we help the other person be fully heard before we even begin to express what is going on inside of us – a challenging job!