What Are The Reasons For Communication Breakdown?
I have 2
Communication breakdowns are getting common. I am not alone. Many around me prefer fiddling with their phones rather than fighting back with their loved ones or those in office.
Why?
Nonchalance could be a reason. Some of those I know already have a clear view of their life. Hence they are not easily affected.
There are also those I know who are self-absorbed. When we are in our zone, nothing else matters. We can keep going with no end in sight.
Those reasons aren’t the ones I want to elaborate on here. They are pretty benign compared to the next 2 in my opinion. So, here goes.
I think communication breakdown starts from fatigue. This sense of fatigue runs deep because what we hear is not what we want to hear or do.
For instance, telling us to stop working and when we want to continue because we love what we do. For example, telling us to stop going for piano practice because the academic examinations are near.
The communication bearer might have our considerations at heart, I am certain. Love is in the air. However, we are learning to manage our time, commitment, and obligation as well.
There will come a time when we get better at mastering our time commitment between what we want to do and what we have to. We have to have faith in others, no matter how anxious we might be.
Communication breakdown starts from fatigue and gets protracted through expectations. This is the real deal-breaker.
When we hear what we don’t want to hear, it is restricted to that moment and that event. We have to deal with it there and then. At least, the message is communicated and received.
When we can expect what we are going to hear from anyone or a particular someone, the intent to communicate vanishes.
If all we want to do is to go for track practice, and we know that mum is very likely to say the reverse (such as stay home to study), we will not want to speak to mum.
That’s because we won’t want her to stop us from doing what we want to. The game of expectations mirrors chess. When I can predict your next move with certainty, I can strategize immediately.
Imagine that the expectations are baked in for today, tomorrow, and into the future. What will happen?
We will no longer engage in a conversation with that specific person. However, the other party (such as mum) will want to speak to us more than ever because she wants us to listen to her.
The Glacier has met the Volcano. Nothing good will happen.
Knowing this, then what can we do?
First, I think we should try to be creative. Don’t just talk about one thing over and over. Develop multiple angles of engagement so the communication lines can be kept alive.
Next, have faith. People are learning to be better and want to grow. We will eventually figure out the balance between the must-dos and want-to-dos.
In fact, with time, we get better at coping with ourselves. That is the same as the others. Leave some breathing space in between. At the very least, asking for dinner suggestions would not be met with unnecessary resistance.
My Thoughts.
Aldric
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