Living harmoniously in a family requires a balance of give-and-take from all family members. Since each family member has her own priorities and needs, communicating openly on a regular basis increases a family's ability to meet in the middle whenever necessary. This reduces the frequency of tense and unnecessary squabbles among loved ones.
Causes of Family Stress
Living in close quarters with family members can cause various problems that range from easily manageable small problems to chronic problems that require extra time and resources. When additional stress is placed on the home environment, family members may notice that communication problems arise more frequently. Some causes of stress in a family may include moving to a new home or city, illness or injury of a relative, career change and financial difficulties.
Communication Problems
Multiple family communication problems, such as avoidance of talking, an inability to listen others and an incapacity let go of grudges, can make dealing with external stressors more difficult. Communication problems often lead to other issues such as poor division of household duties, intolerance of others and children's overdependency on others, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Also, because children learn behaviors such as conflict-resolution skills from their parents, they may have trouble talking about their feelings and problems if their parents model poor communication.
Family Meetings
Family members may learn to communicate better with one another if they sit down together in a concerted effort to discuss their problems, according to North Dakota State University. Setting ground rules---such as allowing everyone to speak without interruption, giving each family member a chance to preside over discussions, respecting other family members and focusing on sharing feelings and constructive suggestions rather than finding one solution---can help facilitate communication. In busy family life, it may be more helpful to schedule a structured family meeting that everyone is required to attend.
Active Listening and Respecful Speaking
Two important parts of good communication are active listening and respectful speaking, according to the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. The primary goal of listening actively is not to hear the words but understand the intentions behind someone's words. Each family member can practice active listening by making eye contact, nodding, trying to avoid passing judgments, waiting for the other person to finish speaking before responding and then paraphrasing his interpretation the speaker's words in an attempt to clarify the message. Speaking respectfully is just as important. When speaking, a family member should express how something makes him feel rather than pointing fingers at others, ask questions to clarify any confusion and encourage extra discussion about a topic.
Family Therapy
Family therapy, a form of psychotherapy, can help families who continue to have communication problems despite their best efforts. A licensed therapist or clinical social worker can offer additional strategies that encourage positive interactions and conflict resolution.
