Effective family communication requires the exchange of feelings, emotions and concerns which unifies family members. It is widely documented that men and women have different communication styles and as a general rule most men struggle with talking about their feelings and emotions.

Strong family communication is about allowing everyone in the family to have a voice and weighing their opinion and carefully considering it. Reciprocating is a good technique to show you are listening and seriously considering their feelings and ideas.

Don't let your family feel like they are talking to a wall. Respond with helpful comments to let them know you are listening, and it doesn't have to be with everything they say or every main idea. If several minutes have gone by and you haven't said anything or gave some clue that you are in the conversation they will think you have mentally checked out.

Withholding Communication

We withhold communication because we have a fear of being misunderstood and think communication will cause more distance if we are misunderstood. The truth is no communication results in greater distance than being misunderstood, because at least if you are misunderstood the lines of communication are open and you can fix it. If you are not communicating at all you can't fix or overcome any confusion.

Withholding communication is almost as bad as communicating in a toxic manner.

It is difficult to trust someone you don't know and granted your spouse is not a stranger but many couples feel more alone being married than if they were single. You build healthy relationships by opening up because it is difficult to connect if you are generally closed.

Most communication is non-verbal and family members know when your heart is not in the conversation and are not taking them seriously.

Don't always be in the disciplining role because family members will always be on guard and feel on edge, they will have a hard time being completely open. It is vitally important that your children feel safe to come to you with their concerns. You as parents have the right to speak in the name of the Lord for your children. If they don't feel safe in coming to you they may go to their friends and their friends do not have the stewardship to receive guidance from God for them like you have.