NVC? WHAT IS NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION?

This month at Desbravador two co-workers from Customs Service, Daiana and Kellem, have brought up an important subject for corporate communication: Nonviolent Communication. This subject was approached by Marshall Rosenberg, a Psychologist, who was working as a guidance counselor in educational institutions trying to eliminate racial segregation in the 60's. NVC is based on language competences which help us to think how we express ourselves and how we listen to the other party. Rosenberg proposal was that answers should not be automatic and repetitive.The main point is respectful interactions, attention, empathy. It's about choosing words, gestures when communicating with another person. Tone of voice, itself, can make the other feel uncomfortable or humiliated. We do not have the right to cause discomfort upon our co-workers, we can disagree, discuss, without hurting the other.

How does violent communication happen? Irony, a certain look, a gesture, a word. Similar to crumpled paper that hardly ever will be smooth again thus is the relation with the person who suffered violent communication and sometimes we don't even realize we are doing this to others! Solution is simple:

• think before speaking;
• don't talk to the person while you're still angry, take your time!
• put yourself in the person shoes, how would you feel?

This way our workplace, our family relations will be smooth. Have a good day!