š You can do one thing that does not cost money to strenghten your relationships...
Dr. John Gottman has researched and studied couples for several decades and identified some strikingly precise findings that distinguish dysfunctional relationships (ādisastersā) from functional ones (āmastersā). One key factor is the ability to never let curiosity and knowledge about the other person fade away.
Gottman says:
āWe usually make statements and broadcast things rather than asking questions.ā
His recommendation is to replace 50% of what you say (or are about to say) in a conversation with open-ended questions (not yes/no questions), in order to explore and deepen the relationship.
What do you think would happen to the content of your conversations if you asked questions such as:
- What has been meaningful to you today?
- What is it like to be a mother right now?
- What are you learning at work these days?
- What are you hoping will happen this week?
This post was published