Communication is part of our daily lives. We communicate through our body language, through our words, through media and technology, and even through our silence. Oftentimes we advocate for our clients to speak up and to be assertive to express their needs, however sometimes somethings are better left unsaid. So, when do we speak up and when do we choose not to say anything?
When to speak up:
If you will regret not saying anything
If not speaking will be an act of self-abandonment
When saying something can be helpful
If you want to preserve the relationship you have with the person, and it’s warranted
When it can enhance your relationship with the other person
When the person appears open to receiving your feedback
When you are standing up for what you believe in
When you are being hurt
When to leave things unsaid:
When the person needs some time and is not ready to hear your feedback
When it won’t make a difference
When it can hurt someone unnecessarily
When there is an alternative
When speaking does not align with your role in the relationship
When it goes against the boundaries the person has set
When it will make things worse
When we don’t know the person and/or situation long enough
When speaking is motivated by revenge
When you feel like you need to say something to satisfy your ego
Communication is an important skill and is something we can help with. For support with learning how to communicate and build your interpersonal relationship, we’re here to help. Give our team a call on (03) 9882 8874 to book an appointment.
To subscribe and listen to our podcast “Breaking the Rules: A Clinician’s Guide to Treating OCD”, click on the following links: Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Episodes will be released fortnightly and will simultaneously be published on our webpage here.
This blog was written and prepared by Dr Celin Gelgec – Clinic Director and Clinical Psychologist at Melbourne Wellbeing Group.