{"id":92806,"date":"2023-02-22T14:57:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-22T18:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=92806"},"modified":"2023-02-27T12:29:38","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T16:29:38","slug":"how-to-have-difficult-conversations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-have-difficult-conversations\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Have Difficult Conversations: 2 Essential Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you preparing to have a hard conversation? Do you struggle with nonverbal cues<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 4 Effective Keys to Effective Communication<\/em>, Bento C. Leal reveals the communication errors that are damaging to relationships. When you fail to understand other people’s body language<\/a> and other cues, it becomes harder to continue the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue reading to learn how to have difficult conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Focus on Their Words and Body Language<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To learn how to have difficult conversations, you must pay close attention to the other person\u2019s choice of words, tone of voice, and body language so you can gain the most complete understanding of their perspective. Leal explains that these signals reveal their true thoughts and feelings<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if someone says that they\u2019re \u201cinfatuated\u201d with their new partner, it doesn\u2019t just mean that they \u201clike\u201d them\u2014it means that they\u2019re experiencing a short-term obsession and have probably been thinking about them nonstop. Similarly, if someone says that they\u2019re \u201cinfatuated\u201d with their new partner in a nervous tone of voice while knitting their eyebrows, this indicates that they\u2019re probably concerned about their infatuation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communicating When You or Another Person Struggles With Nonverbal Cues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Leal explains that it\u2019s crucial to focus on someone\u2019s subtle verbal and nonverbal cues, like tone of voice and body language, to gain a complete understanding of what they\u2019re trying to express. However, this advice can be limiting if you or the other person struggles to read and use subtle verbal cues or nonverbal cues, a common occurrence for people with certain disorders like autism<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who struggle with interpreting nonverbal expression might fail to understand the meaning of cues like sarcasm or distress and consequently miss the deeper meaning of what someone is trying to express. They might also struggle to read body language. Alternatively, an autistic individual might not understand the appropriate uses of body language or tone. This often manifests as expressing themselves in a monotone voice or a tone that doesn\u2019t accurately express how they feel\u2014for example, they might use an elated tone to describe something they\u2019re struggling with. This might cause others to misunderstand them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experts make a few recommendations that can improve communication between autistic people struggling with verbal and nonverbal communication and neurotypical people<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n