Balance in Communication

In interpersonal conflict and most other types of conversations, the people involved are both listeners and speakers. If you become an excellent listener, but do not express your own views and feelings about a conflict, you may tend to accommodate and/or avoid the other person and the conflict. If you are an excellent speaker, but do not make an effort to listen to or understand the other person, you may be considered aggressive, competitive, and uncaring by the other person. The key is to blend both listening and speaking skills to build and maintain a collaborative tone.

In the Chinese belief of Yin and Yang, a balance is required in the communication of the two parties in conflict. This balance involves the self-expression of one’s perspective (assertion) with trying to understand the other person’s perspective (listening).

Conflict resolution uses communication that can be broken down into two distinct parts: the exchange of information and relationship building between the conflict partners. Both aspects of communication are essential in conflict situations.