The importance of family communication

It might seem easier to avoid communicating with a member of your family, but this won’t make problems go away – in many cases, it even makes them worse. 

Good communication, on the other hand, serves as the foundation for a happy and harmonious family life.

So, what is good communication and why is it so important for your family? We explain below.

What is good communication?

Communication means exchanging information between two people or more. This information can be facts, ideas, or feelings. And it can be exchanged through different mediums.

For communication to be successful, all parties need to play their role in good faith. The person sharing the information needs to do so in a way that makes understanding as easy as possible. And the person receiving the information needs to practice active listening and try to interpret the information as faithfully as possible to the intended meaning.

The different types of communication

Communication can take place in a variety of different ways. The most common of these include:

• Verbal communication – when information is exchanged through spoken conversations, whether face-to-face, over telephone, or over a radio.

• Written communication – we can also convey information through written language, via letters, texts, and emails.

• Non-verbal communication – people often express themselves using hand gestures and facial expressions, but they can also send subtle signals through body positioning and eye movements. 

What are the benefits of family communication?

High-quality communication within the family has several indispensable benefits. The most significant of these include:

• Solving problems

It’s surprising how many disagreements between family members stem from miscommunication. Simple breakdowns in communication can even lead to extreme rifts, that families could need the help of family lawyers to heal. Yet if they had better communication skills of their own, they’d be able to clarify positions, find common ground, and live harmoniously once more.

• Deeper connections

Discussing beliefs and opinions with your family members allows you to strengthen the bonds between you. It isn’t necessarily about agreeing on everything, but rather giving each other the space to explore differences and enjoy common ground. 

Going through this process is often a struggle that allows you to gain a deeper understanding of each other and more clarity on why you think, speak, and behave the way that you do. And having gone through it, you gain confidence in your abilities to communicate around difficult topics in the future.

• Stronger support

Oftentimes, family members have personal problems or challenging life situations that they need help resolving. If communication within the family is poor, then they can feel isolated and that they don’t have anyone to help shoulder their burdens. 

Yet when communication is good, they have the confidence to share – secure in the knowledge that they will be listened to and understand. Discussing personal problems with family can lead to greater clarity, as well as shared ideas and experiences that can aid improvement of the problem. 

Communication: The cornerstone of family culture

Positive and effective communication is the hallmark of a happy and successful family. Recognising this importance is the first step in developing a better family culture. Consistently using strategies to improve communication is the way to make lasting positive change.

How can you improve the communication in your family?