The nonviolent communication that Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D., developed in the 1960s is something that I’ve been applying to my life and coaching practice to resolve conflict. NVC practitioners are provided with the tools to communicate in writing or face-to-face their needs and values without judgment. The basic framework is empathetically listening, paying close attention to how you feels when observing and then honestly expressing yourself along the way to understanding your needs.
At that point, you’ve reflected long enough to make a specific request. NVC can be applied to the workplace and go a long way toward removing toxicity from a company’s culture, as well as improving management and employee relations. One example is work-related emails, which often serve as a source of miscommunication that leads to frustration. The solution would be for someone who’s on the receiving end of a questionable email to reflect on their triggered feelings and respond empathetically. In another instance where two co-workers differ about how to best present like a marketing campaign, NVC creates an opportunity to listen more thoughtfully and ask for clarity on why there’s a difference of opinion.
One person may prefer a visual presentation while the other favors verbal communication. This will help them to better understand each other’s perspective. In a nutshell, it can be used to help find a peaceful resolution to conflict and align individuals or teams. More than two years of working and living through a pandemic has made leaders more aware of the need for a more empathetic style of management. So NVC represents a tangible example of something for which there was a dire need that also will serve as a valuable addition to the post-pandemic landscape at work.
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