There is no doubt that most people are emotionally affected by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Quarantine, physical distancing, video calls and the various realities, both work and social, are generating strong changes in people. Not only at a physical level, due to the lack of physical exercise; or emotionally, due to constant uncertainty; but also, at a cognitive level, concentration and retention capacity are made difficult; so interactions have been more challenged in recent times.
“I have learned that people will forgive what you say, people will forgive what you do, but people will never forgive how you make them feel.” Maya Angelou
When people experience situations like the current one, we are subjected to emotional instability, intolerance, distrust, increased irritability and defensive postures. Although these reactions are within the expected range, in situations like these, you must be aware that to minimize friction and avoid adding more stress to yourself in times of crisis, it is advisable to activate your self-leadership, your social skills and a compassionate outlook on others.
That is why maintaining healthy communication with the people around you becomes necessary to take care of social relationships and your own psychological well-being. We cannot lose sight of the fact that: “one of the most important functions of the social bond is to provide social support in times of stress, distress and trauma. Social support can be tangible, emotional and informative” (Lyubomirsky, 2008).
We share with you 7 tips that you can apply daily to communicate in a healthy way during times of pandemic.
1. Activate your empathy
Understanding that both you and others may be affected by the contingency means singapore phone number list that you must be more patient, but also genuinely interested in the other person. It is time to listen with your heart and focus 100% on those around you.
2. Use assertiveness
Being assertive means that we can express what we feel or think, whether we agree or disagree with the other person, but we will always do so with respect, without violating the rights of others or being aggressive with our language. By using assertiveness you will be able to say what you consider at the right time, to the right person, in the right place and in the right way.
3. Connect and tune in sincerely
Rapport is a Neuro-Linguistic Programming technique that facilitates connection between people. You can strategically use some words
said by your counterpart or reinforce their ideas. In the same way, you can subtly assume similar body postures and gestures, so that the other person's brain sees itself reflected and identified with you; and thus, empathize.
If you need to refute a statement, we suggest you avoid phrases like: “No, you are not right,” and prefer sentences such as: “Yes, what if we also tried…?” The more emotional intelligence you apply, the less stress you will have and the more social ties you will have.
5. Check and regulate your emotions
Above all, before starting a difficult conversation, take a few minutes to recognize what you are feeling, what your nonverbal language is expressing, and what your disposition is at that moment. Breathe in and out deeply if you need to calm your mind, body, and emotions; and then, decide on a positive attitude to begin the conversation.
6. Be aware of what you are expressing
Once you are aware of your emotions, pay close attention to the color of the words you are using, preferring respectful and kind language. Also, visualize whether your physicality is showing any gesture of tension in the body or face.
7. Reduce stress factors
Whether in face-to-face or virtual communication, we can be affected by other external stimuli or unfavorable conditions for interaction. Check if you can eliminate these distractions, or make transparent with your counterpart what is happening. The more honest we are in a conversation, the more empathy we generate in other people.
Positive Psychology has shown, in countless studies, that the more social relationships we have and the better quality they are, the more self-efficacy we have, the more positive our thoughts are, the more commitment we have and the more effective we become in our communication.
By being truly interested in people, our communication skills and personal resources will be at the service of building more empathetic relationships, in which the well-being and satisfaction of both parties have the same value.
Sonja Lyubomirsky, The Science of Happiness, Urano Publishing, Barcelona, 2008.