In last week’s blog I wrote about changing the way we interact with our former partners and co-parents, so as to remove toxic communication from daily life.
I had some really interesting questions emailed through to me. Feedback was large that the instant gratification which comes from scoring a point makes it hard to resist the temptation to engage in conflict.
We are all ‘human’, and it does feel good to return a ‘zinger’. However, that feeling is usually very short-lived. If it only incites return fire, in fact, it has not been a victory and is fuel on a potentially large fire.
To remove toxic communication from our lives we must recognise a simple reality – when we are angry, we often say the wrong thing.
Identify the Turning Point
Relationships where communication is dysfunctional usually have an identifiable turning point. This is the point at which functional communication went bad.
That point will be different for everyone, but when you actually identify it, it will likely be something simple. An argument about who was picking the children up, or criticism about the children having a fast-food meal.
It is not the issue which dialled up the conflict from ‘simmering’ to ‘bonfire’. It is all of the words that went around it.
That in turn led to an equally cranky reply, containing more offensive content. And then a reply. And so on.
Before you know it, you are not even able to have a civil conversation on the telephone, or be in the same room together.
All of that could have been avoided had text messages and emails not been sent in anger.
That cycle can be circumvented by following a simple rule: unless the issue is genuinely urgent, do not respond immediately.
By all means, get your response on paper as that can be cathartic, but do not click ‘send’. Save that response in the draft, and set yourself a time limit (for example, one hour) before coming back to it.
In that hour you are giving yourself time for your blood to cool, and to think more objectively about your response, the way it is worded, and its content.
Use that ‘thinking time’ to complete the following 5 steps:-
- Identify your objective – Ask yourself, what am I trying to achieve with this communique? If it is just to ‘vent’, don’t do it. Respond only if there is something constructive to be achieved.
- Be strategic – Put yourself in your former spouse or co-parent’s shoes. Understanding what they want to see occur, or what is important to them, helps frame your response.
- Identify any common ground – Things you agree on can be recorded, and removed from the agenda.
- Focus on disputed items – Is there something your adversary wants of you? A trade-off can potentially be used to break through the impasse.
- Be persuasive – Set out your proposal. Explain why. If you are prepared to make a concession to achieve your objective, make that offer. And keep it simple – ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ goes a long way.
Only press ‘send’ once you’ve followed this process.
This will give you a better chance of achieving your target. Being angry will rarely do that – you seldom get the best out of people when they are backed into a corner.
I acknowledge that these steps are hard to follow. There will be times when you want to give your spouse a piece of your mind – there and then.
Resist that temptation as long, and as often, as you can, as while you may win that battle, it has the potential to create a war. Instead, remember that any point-scoring will be short-lived and that you are far better to play the long game.
BGM Family Lawyers Can Help
We can help with whatever it is that is causing you concern, including:
- Parenting arrangements for children
- Specific issues concerning children – relocation, overseas travel, Passport issues, school enrolment, special medical treatment; adoption and surrogacy, third parties including grandparents
- Financial issues – property settlement and spousal maintenance
- Child support, and Child Support Agreements
- Financial Agreements (‘pre-nuptial’ Agreements and ‘separation’ Agreements)
- Same sex relationships
- Legal advice for separation & divorce
- Multi-jurisdictional and international family law disputes (parenting and financial cases)
- Third party rights in financial cases
Learn more about Dan Bottrell – Director at BGM Family Lawyers
