Clear Communication

When communicating with someone (and especially your teen), it is important to be very clear. It is not uncommon for the teen lawyer to appear and debate everything you’ve said, look for loopholes, and even find witnesses to testify against you. So being clear in your communication is very important. Remember these few steps when communicating

• Be very clear. If you want them to be home at 10:00 PM, then be specific. Don’t use words like around, maybe or perhaps. Those words are not clear or definite. Use phrases that are specific such as:  I expect you home by 10:00 PM. Please be in the house and check in with me to let me know you are home no later than 10:00 PM. If your situation is dealing with time, make sure your watches or cell phones have the same time.
• When making your requests, make sure they are reasonable and attainable
• Have them give you their interpretation of what you said.
• Clarify any misinterpretations.
• Repeat instructions again to make sure everything is clear. Some teens remember details better if instructions are written down. Write down your expectations if that will help clear lines of communication.
• You can even have them repeat it to you again.

This may sound like a lot of work but learning to be clear and concise in your communication could eliminate confusion, tension and arguments.  So remember to say what you mean and mean what you say.

Activity- practice these two steps this week and write down the results of clear communication.

ü  Practice being clear when you communicate

ü  Practice clarifying