#communication-strategies

#communication-strategies

I use a simple framework I call the 5 R'srespect, relate, reframe, revise, and repeat, that I also describe in my book, Misguided. These aren't about winning a debate; they're about lowering defensiveness and creating space for mutual understanding. You also don't need to engage every time. Choose your moments, and try to know the other person's goal before diving in, whether that is validation, curiosity, certainty, or simply keeping the peace.

Massey: Alcohol and forced family fun play a role, but underneath it all is our biology. Human beings are one of those species that can't survive alone-we're hardwired for connection because our survival depends on belonging to a tribe. When someone attacks our beliefs, the automatic part of our brain reacts as if we're in danger. It doesn't know the difference between a tiger in the wild and a relative on a rant.

According to the American Psychological Association's latest Stress in America™ 2025 survey, societal division has emerged as a major source of stress for U.S. adults. Conducted online by The Harris Poll, the survey found that 62% of 3,000 adults, ages 18 and older, identified societal division as a significant stressor in their lives. As we head into the holiday season, this finding feels especially relevant. The same gatherings that promise warmth and connection can also stir tension, particularly when social and political differences arise.

When I was researching and writing my new book, I knew that the focus would be on identifying ways to parent adult children that results in more harmonious and less stressful contact. But the farther I got into it, interviewing people and reading the research, the more I realized that every decade has its unique challenges and that I needed to fine tune how we communicate with our adult offspring based on their current stage in life.

When the mere thought of raising an issue with a loved one fills you with dread, you are likely experiencing confrontation anxiety. Yet, navigating through confrontations is crucial for sustaining a loving and genuine bond. Our research shows that when conflicts are addressed in a healthy way, they can actually draw you closer, fostering deeper understanding and trust. Let's explore how you can transform conflicts into opportunities for growth, paving the way for richer, more fulfilling connections.

Negging aims to lower the self-esteem of the recipient to make them more open to the advances of the speaker.

Fear-based messages often activate a resistance response in the brain, leading to further entrenchment of beliefs. Instead, messages highlighting benefits promote openness and learning.

Questions regarding vaccines are increasing globally, raising concerns among public health specialists about the potential worsening of this trend. A growing body of research addresses vaccine hesitancy, providing strategies to effectively engage skeptics and build trust.

Sustainability leaders face pressures from both sides of the political spectrum, leading many organizations to under-communicate or completely halt their sustainability endeavors.

No one recommends taking to social media to criticize your boss, especially if your name is attached and you're seriously looking to drive change.

Phubbing, or phone snubbing, conveys a sense of unimportance to the person being ignored, negatively impacting mental health and relationships.

Determining credible sources in future pandemics will be crucial as misinformation can impact both personal well-being and survival.

If your team's "collaboration" currently looks like a tangled mess of emails, lost files, and someone yelling, "Can everyone see my screen?" -we've got some solutions to smooth things out.

One of the crucial elements of effective dissent is grounding feedback in a shared purpose, helping to avoid personal validation battles and focusing on common goals.

The key to dealing with a meddling MIL is to bite your tongue - and when in doubt, play it like a National Geographic docuseries.

We've embraced an agile editorial mindset, while remaining anchored in our brand narrative of helping people achieve their goals through responsible lending.

Starting a conversation can feel daunting, but it’s important to remember that people generally enjoy social interactions, even brief ones.