10 tips to help you communicate well this year

Whatever your views are about the world we live in today and with a little thought, you can get the best out of yourself and others by re-examining your communication methods.

Here are 10 things you might like to consider...

1. Get curious - Respectfully ask someone about their 'identity'. e.g. "Do you mind if I ask you a little bit more about.....for my own understanding?

2. Explore more - e.g. "What brought you to this conclusion?", "What have been your experiences so far?"

3. Show empathy and validate the other persons feelings. You can still walk away not agreeing with them.

4. Check your emotion level! - Are you going into this conversation looking to win, have an argument, get stuff off your chest, make them change to your point of view???? STOP, take a breath, start again, or leave it for a time you can chat calmly and rationally.

5. Are you making assumptions? - Perhaps you've seen something or someone on social media and decided this is the only truth out there. If you don't ask, you won't actually get to the real truth.

6. See the person, not your label - Look beyond what you think you know, you could be wrong!

7. Find common ground - What do they like doing?, What/Who matters to them?, How can we make our differences work for both of us?

8. Educate others - It might be easy to slip back into lazy communication methods to align with your mates. Why not tell them what you have learnt about someone different to you and how it's helped your understanding?

9. Stick with"I", not "You" - As I often say, you can only say the impact a situation is having on you, if you are looking for things to change. Using "You" is likely to create defensive conversations & reactions, implying the other person must change in order to move forward. It's not your prerogative to change someone else, it's theirs!

10. Acceptance - The world will always change, no matter what you do or say. You may say or get things wrong and a simple apology will suffice before moving forward with two way, respectful communication.

and for your bonus tip...