What is Violent
Communication?
If “violent”
means acting in ways that result in hurt or harm, then much of how we
communicate—judging others, bullying, having racial bias, blaming,
finger pointing, discriminating, speaking without listening,
criticizing others or ourselves, name-calling, reacting when angry,
using political rhetoric, being defensive or judging who’s
“good/bad” or what’s “right/wrong” with people—could
indeed be called “violent communication.”
What is Nonviolent
Communication?
Nonviolent
Communication is the integration of four things:
• Consciousness: a
set of principles that support living a life of compassion,
collaboration, courage, and authenticity
• Language:
understanding how words contribute to connection or distance
• Communication:
knowing how to ask for what we want, how to hear others even in
disagreement, and how to move toward solutions that work for all
• Means of
influence: sharing “power with others” rather than using “power
over others”
Nonviolent
Communication serves our desire to do three things:
• Increase our
ability to live with choice, meaning, and connection
• Connect
empathically with self and others to have more satisfying
relationships
• Sharing of
resources so everyone is able to benefit