Today I’m going to give you another tip on how to communicate better with your partner. Ready for this one? It’s a good one!

 
When communicating with your partner, it’s really important to think about them as being on one side of a bridge, and you on another. So what you need to do first is go to their side of the bridge. When they’re talking, you need to reflect back what it is that you hear them saying. You’re not fixing anything, you’re not changing anything, you’re not challenging anything, you’re just starting with: “I hear you.” Because once somebody feels heard, then they’ll be willing to cross the bridge, come to your side, and listen to your story.
The only way to get someone to listen to you is for you to listen first.