Non-violent communication

Non-violent communication, or compassionate communication is split into the four areas of: 

• Observations. 
• Feelings. 
• Needs. 
• Requests. 

This video is taken from the Courageous Conversations webinar, where Ali Gardner uses a case study to explore non-violent communication. In this webinar, Ali talks about how we need to think about mindset over method when considering approaches, and why emotion should be considered alongside skills-based approaches as we think about courageous conversations. 

Talking points 

This video looks at: 

• How non-violent communication highlights when people are not working in a compassionate way. 
• The importance of separating judgement, evaluation and interpretation from the description of what’s happened at the observation stage. 
• How naming our emotions can help others to hear what is important to us. 
• The importance of sharing the need you have instead of the strategy you want somebody to complete. 
• The difference between requests and demands. 

Resources that are mentioned in this video  

• Rosenberg, M. (2015). ‘Nonviolent communication: A language of life’.  

Related resources 

• Difficult Conversations: Frontline Briefing  
• Dialogic practice: Garavan's six steps
• Embedding strengths-based practice: Frontline Briefing 
• Strengths-based working: Learning Pathway  
• Strengths-based practice: Brief Guide  
• Supporting strengths-based practice in social care teams  

Reflective questions 

Here are reflective questions to stimulate conversation and support practice:  

1. Are there changes that you might need to make to your mindset in order to effectively apply non-violent communication?  
2. How can you start to separate judgement, evaluation and interpretation from the description of events?