Effective communication
Here are a few top tips to help you to effectively communicate with your Link Friend:
Make sure you can focus. Active listening means being ‘tuned in’ to the person who is speaking and allowing them the time and space to get their point across to you.
Try not to talk over the top of the other person. Allowing space for both of you to express yourselves is vital in building rapport and establishing a positive relationship. They also may not have spoken to someone else for some time so they might need the release of talking a lot!
Try to relate to the other person’s point of view, even if it is not one you share. Empathy and compassion provide a positive platform for conversation without fear of a negative or judgmental response.
Be patient. A pause, even a long pause, doesn’t always mean that the speaker has finished. Silence is also okay. Don’t feel as though you have to fill all the silent ‘spaces’. Allow the conversation to ebb and flow as necessary.
Avoid personal prejudice, discrimination or judgement. Appreciate that the person you are speaking to will have their own range of opinions, values and experiences and that these may be different to your own, but no less valid.
Listen to your Link Friend’s tone of voice. Volume, pitch and tone all reveal how someone is reacting to what is being said, or how they are generally feeling.
If you are visiting you can also see your Link Friend’s facial expressions and body language, which can communicate to you how they feel.
Listen for the message, not just words. You want to get the whole picture, not just bits and pieces. Sometimes your Link Friend might want to say something to you, but is unsure how to go about it, for example, asking for help.
Be aware of what type of questions you are asking and why you are asking them. For example ‘What do you think you could do about that?’ could encourage your Link Friend to find their own solutions, and help them to feel empowered. ‘Don’t you think it would be better if you did this?’ could be leading and make your Link Friend feel judged.