A Positive Attitude

Positive Communication is Encouraging

When communicating it’s important to encourage and note the good things, even when the message might be difficult. Use positive words and phrases. Tell people how to do something, what they’re doing well or what you’d like them to do, as opposed to telling them what not to do.
Talk about what is going right, and if things aren’t working out, talk about what can be done to get things on the right track. Make a plan, set goals and move things in a positive direction.

Style and Tone is Important

If you pay attention, you can see this in your everyday communications. If you go into a conversation with a negative attitude or defensive tone, you’re more likely to meet with resistance from others.
Do your best to remain upbeat. Avoid getting defensive or using negative language. If you are angry or agitated, take a step back from what you are saying or writing. Relax and start again when you are in a better mood.
It can be hard to get in the habit and develop a positive tone, but if you work at it and maintain a positive attitude you’ll quickly see the benefits.

Be Open and Honest

Effective communication is clear, open and honest. By communicating honestly and openly you almost automatically bring a positivity that others can identify with.
If you aren’t sure about something, say so. If you are wrong, admit it. People can identify with a communicator who can admit he or she are wrong, it’ll give you credibility in any future communications and create a positive picture of integrity in people’s minds.

Know When to Listen

Finally, for positive communication to work it’s important that you know when to listen. It’s easy to get caught up in the sound of your own voice.
Listening isn’t a trait most people are born with. It’s a skill that needs to be learned.

Activity: 1

Positive Attitude and Communication
Think of positive words and list them here.

Activity: 2

Make a Plan

Place all the cards on the floor or table and ask the group to sort them into a process of dealing with a situation positively. The result should be as follows although there is some room for discussion and some parts won’t be relevant depending on the situation.

Respond Don’t react

Set the scene

Know what you want

Plan what to say

Say how you feel

Keep it short

Repeat your point

Empathise

Compromise

Activity: 3
Positive Communication

Think of a time in your life where you have had to deal with an awkward situation. This could be at work or dealing with a company. Write below what the problem was and how you dealt with it.

Now using the 9 steps to communicating positively, list how you could implement this into your problem above. Could you have dealt with the situation more positively, how could you have done this and what do you think the outcome would have been?

1) Respond don’t react.

2) Set the scene.

3) Know what you want.

4) Plan what to say

5) Say how you feel

6) Keep it short

7) Repeat your point

8) Empathise

9) Compromise

Appreciation

Respect

Attitude

Which of these words would you respond to and why?
Over the next 5 days you are to keep a journal and write down all the situations that you have been in where you or someone else may have communicated positively. This could be when making a decision at home or where you have experienced positive communication in a shop.