I did a short Non-Violent Communication training (part 2) for my company yesterday. I am my happiest at work when I’m sifting through content and thinking about how to present it . . . especially when it’s content like this. If you haven’t read Marshall B. Rosenberg’s book Non-Violent Communication yet I highly recommend it. There are also plenty of videos and information online about the concept.
Non-Violent Communication (or NVC) is a communication style also sometimes referred to as Compassionate Communication. It was coined by Marshall B. Rosenberg, a psychologist and mediator who developed the style in the 1960s and used it to resolve conflicts. A premise of NVC is that we all have the capacity for compassion and that we only use violence or harmful behavior when we don’t have a more effective way to get our needs.
In short, it’s a model for thinking about and having exchanges with oneself and others to create quality connections. It can be a great communication style to give and receive feedback, which is a muscle we’re trying to build at my workplace right now.
This is a 3-minute video I played in my training yesterday to refresh people on the topic and give an example of how powerful this communication style can be.
I am learning alongside everyone else when it comes to practicing this communication style, but it gives me hope that there’s a better way to connect and understand one another.
With Love,
Natalie