Eight Habits You Must Change in Interpersonal Communication

In interpersonal relationships, we often encounter various challenges and difficulties. Sometimes, the root of these problems doesn’t lie with others but with some of our own bad habits. This article explores eight common interpersonal pitfalls. If left unchecked, they may cause you significant trouble in life.

1. Lack of Listening

• Behavior: In conversations, you’re always eager to express your own opinions, ignoring the feelings and needs of the other person.
• Consequence: A lack of listening leads to misunderstandings and conflicts, making others feel disrespected and misunderstood.
• Solution: Cultivate the habit of listening. In conversations, give the other person enough attention and response. Ask questions and summarize their points to show you understand and care.

2. Being Overly Self-Centered

• Behavior: You focus only on your own needs and interests, ignoring others’ feelings and needs.
• Consequence: Being overly self-centered can cause you to lose the trust and support of others, distancing yourself from meaningful relationships.
• Solution: Develop empathy and learn to put yourself in others’ shoes. By considering the feelings and needs of others, you can make decisions that are more beneficial for everyone.

3. Breaking Promises

• Behavior: You frequently make promises but fail to keep them, or you change your mind easily.
• Consequence: Breaking promises destroys trust, making others lose confidence in you and harming long-term cooperation and relationships.
• Solution: Be cautious when making promises and ensure you can keep them. If you’re unable to fulfill a promise, communicate with the other party promptly and explain the reasons to minimize negative impact.

4. Being Emotionally Driven

• Behavior: You are easily swayed by emotions, unable to handle problems calmly, and often make impulsive decisions.
• Consequence: Emotional decisions lead to mistakes, affecting the stability and harmony of relationships.
• Solution: Learn to manage your emotions through techniques like deep breathing or meditation. When emotions run high, give yourself time to cool down before making decisions.

5. Poor Communication Skills

• Behavior: You often fail to express yourself clearly, or you use inappropriate expressions that lead to misunderstandings and conflicts.
• Consequence: Poor communication hinders the smooth transmission of information, affecting both collaboration and relationship harmony.
• Solution: Improve your communication skills by learning how to express your thoughts clearly and accurately. Practice and feedback can help you refine your communication style.

6. Strong Jealousy

• Behavior: You feel jealous of others’ success and happiness, thinking that what they have should belong to you.
• Consequence: Strong jealousy can ruin relationships, trapping you in a cycle of negative emotions and hindering personal growth and happiness.
• Solution: Cultivate gratitude and appreciation. Write down three things you’re grateful for each day and learn to celebrate others’ achievements. Recognize that everyone has their own path and pace, and focus on your own growth and happiness.

7. Impatience

• Behavior: You’re always in a hurry to achieve results and lack the patience to wait, often giving up halfway.
• Consequence: Impatience hinders the successful implementation of plans and affects the achievement of long-term goals.
• Solution: Cultivate patience and maintain a positive attitude while waiting. Set detailed plans and milestones to gradually achieve your long-term goals.

8. Poor Conflict Resolution

• Behavior: When faced with conflict, you tend to avoid it or exacerbate the situation, unable to resolve the problem effectively.
• Consequence: Poor conflict resolution leads to unresolved issues, which can eventually escalate into bigger conflicts, damaging relationships.
• Solution: Learn conflict management techniques and resolve issues through communication and negotiation. Stay calm and rational during conflicts, seeking solutions that are acceptable to both parties.

These eight bad habits in interpersonal communication, if not corrected, can cause significant difficulties in life. By recognizing these issues and adopting corrective measures, we can gradually improve our relationships and enhance personal and professional development. Remember, true success is not just about personal ability but also about fostering harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships.