Strong families communicate easily and well - frequently, openly, clearly, and directly. They do a good deal of sharing of themselves - their feelings, hopes, dreams, fears, joys, sorrows, experiences, growth, and needs. Perhaps the most important communication skill is listening. Active listening is essential to effective family communication and is vital to hearing and being heard in the family unit.
People are busy and have many demands to meet.
However, it is critical that families find ways to increase the amount of talking they do together and continue to look for ways to improve their communication skills. In strong families, the members may listen to each other. On the other side of the coin, they must express their own wants and needs clearly. A frequent communication error is NOT making individual wants and needs known clearly. Strong families are not conflict-free.