Improving Your Communication Skills To Strengthen Your Relationship

Medically reviewed by Laura Angers Maddox
Updated March 27, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Communication is an essential aspect of the development and maintenance of strong relationships, and this is especially true for romantic relationships. Since we can’t read minds, communication helps us to know what another person is thinking or feeling. Without it, trust, conflict resolution, and other important elements of a connection become difficult or even impossible. For those who are aiming to become better communicators, improve their communication skills, or start communicating more effectively, there are several helpful strategies to try.

The importance of communication in a relationship
The importance of communication is beyond measure, with verbal communication being one of the oldest methods for transferring information between humans. Communication is one of the most important skills in life. Delivering messages clearly to properly convey what you want to express can help reduce the risk of misunderstandings. The reverse is also true: poor communication can have significant negative effects on a dynamic. This is true even in non-romantic relationships, like those we have with co-workers. Let’s take a look at the importance of communication and some of the benefits of having the ability to communicate effectively in your relationships.

Getty/AnnaStills
Boost your communication skills for a healthier relationship

It can help reduce conflict or resolve it more quickly

If something is bothering your partner but you don’t know what it is, your chances of being able to resolve it are slim to none. Plus, the longer they stew in their upset feelings without telling them or without them getting resolved, the more likely resentment is to build. If communicating openly and honestly about your feelings as they arise is the norm in your relationship, you’re likely to be able to resolve conflicts more quickly and avoid these negative outcomes.

The connection between communication and conflict isn’t just present in romantic relationships. Effective communication can also benefit the relationships you have with friends, family, and even, in many jobs, your coworkers. For example, strong workplace communication can make you more efficient and help you avoid conflict with coworkers. Communication in the work place helps employees to understand their tasks and overall helps organization. Communication can also help build a team attitude between other company employees and team members. Leaders who achieve success have effective workplace communication.

It can help you know your partner on a deeper level

Even if you’ve been in a relationship for a long time, a lack of proper communication can lead to misinterpreting behaviors. If you’re frequently offering your thoughts and feelings with your partner, and your partner is a good listener, you may be able to work through conflict together, and gain a better understanding over time of who your partner truly is and what motivates them. You can learn more about how their mind works, what their needs and priorities are, and what they like or dislike. Without this insight into their inner workings, you might attribute their actions to a motivation or characteristic that isn’t true. This can lead to misunderstandings and frustration, and it may mean you simply don’t know your partner on as deep a level as you might if you were used to talking openly with each other.

It can help you build trust

Working through challenges together through honest communication can be difficult, but beneficial. The more you and your partner can use your individual communication skills to do this successfully, the more trust you’ll build in each other. You may realize that they’re on your team and they’re there for you—an equal partner in facing whatever life may throw at you. You may also be more likely to look at a problem as something to tackle together rather than something that comes between you.

It can benefit long-distance relationships

Couples in certain circumstances might find that effective communication skills are even more important for creating and maintaining a positive dynamic, such as those in long-distance relationships. Without it, those who live in different places can start to feel distant and disconnected over time. That’s why it may benefit long-distance couples to set parameters about how and when they’ll set aside time to connect. Science supports that being intentional about this practice can be beneficial and may lead to better relationships overall. One study showed that couples who maintain good communication in a long-distance relationship can find that relationship satisfying, at least in the short term. Some long-distance partners may even enjoy engaging in written communication, such as sending love letters to one another.

How to connect effectively with your partner

Building relationships with improved communication usually takes time and effort. Everyone has different communication needs, and therefore enters relationships with a different level of communication skill, and many have different views of what good communication looks like or what they need from their partner to be satisfied in this area. One size does not fit all; that said, there are a few strategies you can try to effectively communicate with your partner and connect with them more easily.

iStock

Learn each other’s love languages

The love languages framework was popularized by Gary Chapman in his 1992 book, The Five Love Languages. It posits that there are five main languages, or methods, in which people prefer to give and receive love. They are physical touch, words of affirmation, gift-giving, acts of service, and quality time. Learning your partner’s primary love language and then prioritizing showing them affection in that way can be powerful. For example, if theirs is words of affirmation, writing them a note saying what you appreciate about them or sending them a text with words of encouragement might be good ways to show them love. Another example would be for those with physical touch as their love language. In that case, meeting your partner’s needs may involve learning non-verbal cues and finding ways to interpret their non-verbal communication. 

Giving affection in a way someone prefers to receive can help them feel seen, cared for, and appreciated, and it can help build the trust that strong verbal communication is usually based on. Plus, a recent study found that couples who communicate affection in their partner’s main love language report higher relationship satisfaction. This shows its importance in maintaining a healthy relationship.

Get to know each other’s communication styles

A person’s communication style can encompass a few different elements. First, there’s the preferred communication medium. Thanks to technology, there many different communication channels. Finding one or some that work for both of you can make communication flow more easily. For example, if one of you has a busy job, texting throughout the day might not be an option. Or, if someone feels more comfortable getting their thoughts down on paper before a big discussion of some kind, they may prefer to email their main points ahead of the talk. Knowing and understanding of these preferences may improve the communication dynamic overall and help you and your partner find common ground.

Another component of someone’s communication style relates to their logical and emotional processes. For example, if the conversation is significant and serious, some people may need to hear what their partner has to say and then take time to process it and organize their thoughts before providing a reply. Others might do better processing what they think about something out loud and in real-time. Another example is that some people might shut down when voices are raised, meaning both partners would have to prioritize remaining calm and taking breaks if emotions start to run high. The more you communicate with your partner, the more of these elements you may be able to pick up. Having an open conversation about what they need or prefer in regard to these communication elements can be effective, too.

It’s also important to consider how the way you choose to communicate impacts your partner. Things like a raised voice, defensive body language, or very direct language may translate as harsh feedback to some people. It may help improve your communication by striving to speak in a kind manner to your partner. Effective communication will look different in every individual relationship.

Build strong listening skills

Communication isn’t only about how we express ourselves to another person. Listening is a key factor of communication that needs equal attention for strong communication to exist. Active listening is one popular style. It aims to make sure the listener fully internalizes the speaker’s message, and that the speaker feels truly heard. According to the International Journal of Listening, active listening has three components:
  1. Showing nonverbal involvement. This usually takes the form of nonverbal cues like head nods, eye contact, and open body language. These nonverbal communication cues can help show your partner that you’re engaged in the conversation and that you’re paying attention.
  2. Refraining from judgment. This component can be difficult when strong emotions are involved, but aiming to withhold judgment until your partner has finished speaking and you can process their true message may be useful to you both. It may help you remain in the moment during the conversation without being distracted by the impulse to formulate a response immediately, which can help you let them say what they need to say while you fully absorb it.
  3. Asking questions. When it’s appropriate to do so, asking your partner clarification questions can help you better understand their points and avoid poor communication. It also shows that you’re interested and invested in fully grasping what they have to say.
Investing in becoming a more active listener can be worthwhile for your relationship. According to the United States Institute of Peace, active listening can improve mutual understanding between people, which is typically important for trust and a close bond.

Consider working with a therapist to improve your communication skills

Communicating—especially in the context of a romantic relationship—can be difficult, particularly if you didn’t have healthy communication patterns modeled for you growing up. Sometimes, enlisting the help of a therapist to mediate and coach you and your partner as you work to improve communication can help you and your partner understand why effective communication is important. A therapist can act as a neutral observer and identify patterns that may obstruct clear communication, and they can help you both develop the necessary skills. If you choose to seek therapy as an individual, a mental health professional may also be able to dig into your style and relationship with communication to improve it where needed.

Whether you seek the guidance of a counselor on your own, together with your partner, or both, you might consider the option of virtual therapy. Studies suggest that online therapy is efficacious and equivalent to face-to-face meetings and in-person treatment, and some find the virtual format to be more comfortable and available. An online therapy platform like BetterHelp can match you with a licensed therapist who you can speak with via phone, video call, and/or chat to improve your communication skills or handle other challenges you may be facing in your relationship or other aspects of your personal life.

Getty/AnnaStills
Boost your communication skills for a healthier relationship

Takeaway

When you and your partner are intentional about communicating effectively, your relationship will likely benefit. While good communication skills generally aren’t built overnight, having patience and understanding why communication is important can benefit the well-being of you and your partner and the health of your dynamic. You may consider therapy if you are looking for a way to improve your communication skills.

Build healthy relationship habits with a professional
The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.
Get the support you need from one of our therapistsGet started