“What you say is often less important than what your teen hears.”
Small changes in the way you communicate to make a Big difference!
The other day I heard my colleague say this to a 19 year old son on the other end of the line –
“Go to the bank at 11 o’clock – have you kept all the papers I asked you to – go and meet the manager – ………. Ask her …………. Carry ………… Say ………...”
While he sat and said all of this I was wondering which of these would the boy not have done had the parent not “instructed” him to.
Most adolescents struggle with self-image issues and how you communicate does not do much help. In fact you totally suck the wind out of his sail with your instructions.
Now check…. how often are you in an “instruction mode” for example: Do this – Don’t do this – Wear this – Don’t wear this – Go there – Don’t go there
Here’s something you need to “know”: Your teen hates instructions.
What are you really communicating to him when you are instructing him?
You are telling him:
- you are a kid
- you need help – let me tell you how to do it
- you are still immature … you don’t know
Obviously he won’t listen because he doesn’t agree with you and – HE IS RIGHT. Think about it!
If you get this – then let me share what I do and IT WORKS.
Instead of INSTRUCTING start SUGGESTING
Your teen doesn’t mind suggestions – because when you suggest, you are telling him –
“You are grown up and you can decide. Here’s what has worked for me – you could try if you want to. The choice is yours.”
When you leave the power “to choose” to him, he would choose what is right for him. But when you instruct him he exercises his choice – to choose to reject what you instructed him to do. It is his way of saying – “I know it better”
“To Instruct or not to Instruct” is a choice you have to make.
Choose wisely!
