Ten Words or Less

I am so used to teaching parents that when implementing discipline there is no need for much dialogue. If the rules, and consequences for breaking the rules, was preestablished then there is no need for debate. I tell them 10 words or less, to ensure the child is listening and processing. I give similar advice to adults when verbal communication becomes ineffective. I recently worked with a client who wanted to repair a relationship, but knew a discussion would lead to fighting. I simply said, “what would happen if you just gave them a hug?” The response was, “well they would probably hug back”. How about we give that a try. Sometimes less is better. Just like some blogposts. It is okay to be brief and still make a point. I’m learning.