The I Am With You concept is one of the survival skills to burnout recovery. It is in essence focusing on one person in your life at a time for 30 – 60 seconds to send the message, I Am With You.
You don’t have to agree or disagree, but validating the other person’s needs, and acknowledging them can repair more relationships than any other series of more expensive and exhaustive methods of communication.
Validation is a crucial aspect of effective communication, especially in relationships with family members and friends. It involves acknowledging and accepting the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the other person without judgment. The goal of validation is to make the other person feel heard, understood, and respected.
Here are some key principles of validation:
Active Listening: Actively listen to what the other person is saying. Give them your full attention, make eye contact, and use nonverbal cues like nodding to show that you are engaged in the conversation.
Empathy: Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and understand their perspective. Show empathy by expressing that you understand how they feel or why they have a particular viewpoint.
Reflective Responses: Reflect back on what the other person has said to demonstrate that you are paying attention and trying to grasp their feelings and thoughts. For example, you might say, “I hear that you’re feeling frustrated because of the situation at work.”
Avoid Judgment: Avoid making judgments, criticisms, or offering immediate solutions unless the other person explicitly asks for advice. Validation is about acknowledging their emotions and experiences, not about fixing their problems.
Validation Statements: Use statements that validate their feelings or experiences. Phrases like, “I can see why you would feel that way,” or “It’s completely understandable that you’re upset,” convey validation.
Non-Verbal Validation: Non-verbal cues, such as a comforting touch or a supportive facial expression, can also convey validation.
Validation of Identity: Sometimes, validation involves recognizing the person’s identity or choices. For example, if a family member shares a personal decision, you can validate their autonomy by saying, “I respect your choice, even if I may not fully understand it.”
Validation can help build trust, strengthen relationships, and provide emotional support to the people you care about. It fosters an atmosphere of open communication and empathy, which can lead to more constructive and healthier interactions.
Recommended Resources:
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
The Culture Solution: A Practical Guide to Building a Dynamic Culture so People Love Coming to Work and Accomplishing Great Things Together
E-Myth Mastery: The Seven Essential Disciplines for Building a World-Class Company
The E-Myth Enterprise: How to Turn a Great Idea into a Thriving Business
The E-Myth Contractor: Why Most Contractors’ Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
The Together Teammate: Build Strong Systems, Make the Work Manageable, and Stay Organized Behind the Scenes
Daily Progress
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