Actions for Effective Communication
Action 4.
Translate your (and other people’s) complaints and criticisms into specific
requests, and explain your requests. In order to get more cooperation from others, wheneverpossible ask for what you want by using specific, action-oriented, positive language rather
than by using generalizations, “why’s,” “don’ts” or “somebody should’s.” Help your listeners
comply by explaining your requests with a “so that...”, “it would help me to... if you would...”
or “in order to... .” Also, when you are receiving criticism and complaints from others,
translate and restate the complaints as action requests. ....”).
Action 5.
Ask questions more “open-endedly” and more creatively. “Open-endedly...”: In
order to coordinate our life and work with the lives and work of other people, we all need to
know more of what other people are feeling and thinking, wanting and planning. But our
usual “yes/ no” questions actually tend to shut people up rather than opening them up. In
order to encourage your conversation partners to share more of their thoughts and feelings,
ask “open-ended” rather than “yes/ no” questions. Open-ended questions allow for a wide
range of responses. For example, asking “How did you like that food/ movie/ speech/
doctor etc.?” will evoke a more detailed response than “Did you like it?” which could be
answered with a simple “yes” or “no”.
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