Carly's Ramblings Blog - Style

Communication Styles

30 Day Blogging Challenge

PROMPT March 18th
Does your communication style tend to be straightforward or subtle? Are you more likely to speak your mind or beat around the bush? Have you ever gotten into trouble because of your communication style?

My communication style. I'd like to say I am a straight shooter, but I know from past experience that I tend to hold back when I am afraid to say what I think or am not sure what I think. This happens more in romantic, long term relationships. Abandonment issues arise whenever there is a disagreement and I don't want to have the person take offence and drop my ass, so I keep quiet.

This inability to communicate was an issue that caused the breakdown in my marriage.

I find I get stuck and cannot express myself when I am under a great deal of stress. I know that saying nothing only makes things worse, but I can't get anything out. It is like I know I need to communicate, but I fear what I have to say will upset the other person so I can't get it out, but in not saying anything I make the situation worse. I fear that he will leave or kick my ass to the curb, but what I fear, I created and I did get kicked to the curb.

I tend not to be like that with any other relationships. In fact, with family I say what I think because I know they can't kick me to the curb. They are stuck with me.
With friends, I can say what I think because they have my back and get me.
With co-workers I try to be open and address issues that come up so that our team works like a cohesive unit. We work with a small class of primary age Autistic students. I do work with one lady that tends to overshare. Not sure what to do about that. I try to listen to a point, then redirect back to our students. I don't want her to think I don't care, but I need to somehow convey the importance of time and place. The students need to come first. She tends to be sensitive and can take things the wrong way, so I need to be careful how I deal with this issue.