Transcript Communication Styles and Barriers

Communication Styles and Barriers
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Communication Styles and
Behaviors
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Passive
 Does not offer opposition
when challenged or
pressured.
 Goes along with what
people want and does not
protest.
 Avoids, gives in, does not
express feelings.
 This style disrespects you.
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Aggressive
 Hostile and unfriendly
 Put downs
 Yelling
 Physical violence
 This style disrespects
others.
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Assertive
 Most healthy communication
style.
 Expressing thoughts and
feelings in a direct, respectful
way.
 It’s not always easy to be
assertive when someone
makes you angry, but it can
help avoid further conflict
and maintain a mutual
respect.
 Practice helps!
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Examples:
Situation
Passive Response
Aggressive
Response
Someone cuts in
front of you in line.
You don’t say
anything.
“Well, you must
“Excuse me, but I
think you’re special!” believe I was next in
line.”
Your best friend tells
someone else one of
your secrets.
You don’t say
anything, but you
vow to never tell her
another secret.
“I hate you! I’m
never going to trust
you again!”
“It hurt me to find
out you told my
secret to someone
else. Please don’t
repeat my secrets
again.”
“You are so
inconsiderate! I
Quit!”
“Sorry, I can’t work.
I have a lot of
homework to do.”
Your boss asks you to You agree, but feel
work late for the
worried about
third night in a row. finishing your
homework tonight.
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Assertive
Response
Barriers to Good Communication
These conditions may interfere with good communication:
 Unclear explanations
 Bringing up the past
 Conflicting
 Using guilt trips
messages
 Not listening
 Personal biases
 Interrupting
 Blaming or yelling
 Assuming you
understand
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 Using profane
language
 Giving unwanted advice
 Mocking or ridiculing
another person
 Using violence
Communication Stoppers
These conditions usually stop or slow down communication:
 Interrupting: Butting in as the person tries to talk.
 Challenging/Contradicting: Questioning everything the speaker has to
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say.
Dominating: Taking over the conversation.
Judging: Evaluating everything the speaker has to say.
Advising: Giving a lot of unwanted advice.
Interpreting: Analyzing everything in order to find its “deeper meaning.”
Probing: Asking question after question in a demanding voice.
Criticizing/Put Downs: Making sarcastic or negative remarks about the
speaker or speaker’s feelings or ideas.