Strengthening relationships is a common goal among a lot of us. Communication is key when it comes to building relationships. But how can we build these strong relationships in communication? Through integrity. Today on Therapy Thursday I am telling you 3 ways that communicating with integrity can strengthen relationships.
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Maintaining integrity in communication is about knowing yourself.
Know who you are. Knowing your wants, needs, thoughts, and feelings. Knowing who you are is important because you need to show up as your genuine self, your authentic self. You cannot show up in conversation with this assumption that the other person knows who you are, what you want, what you need, what you are thinking, or how you are feeling. Showing up with your thoughts and needs in conversation is SO important to strengthening relationships.
Being clear in your conversations with others is having integrity.
Clear is kind; unclear is unkind.
Brene Brown
Having clarity in communication with another person is about getting to the point. It is not about talking around something, hoping the other person will understand exactly what you are saying and meaning. It is not about reading between the lines, it is about being really clear and intention with your thoughts and feelings. If what you are trying to say is unclear, this gives the other person a chance to ask questions. It does not mean they do not understand you it just means that what you are saying is not clear to them specifically.
Being open to feedback is showing up with integrity.
Being open to feedback comes with some humility. It is this understanding that you don’t know everything. We are all imperfect humans trying to live this imperfect life and to maintain integrity is to be open to the idea that you might be wrong. Your perception of the situation might be incorrect. Being open to feedback is showing up in this humility of saying who you are – this kind and loving person. When we are closed off to feedback we might get defensive, reactive, or think people are attacking us – get out of this place by allowing yourself to be open to feedback. By doing so you are building relationships that have more integrity, honesty, and clarity.
Show up in conversations with integrity, you will not regret it. It is going to change the way people react to you and change how you feel about the interactions you have with other people.
