Communication Glossary

ACTIVE LISTENING. A style of listening where each person in the communication loop clarifies their understanding of the message they've heard by rephrasing and repeating the message in their own words.

DILUTED RESPONSE. A response that accurately conveys the tone and/or substance of thoughts or feelings, but dilutes the intensity or the accuracy. It is a type of indirect response.

DIRECT RESPONSE. An exact, specific and unequivocal response to a question or statement, as in yes, no, do this, I did that.

HELPING RESPONSE. Any response that advances, clarifies or adds to the discussion, communication, and/or relationship.  A helping response moves the communication further toward the goal, point of the communication, answer to the question or solution to the problem.  The opposite of a toxic response.

PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE RESPONSE. A response that conveys one meaning verbally, but another non-verbally. A type of indirect response.

INDIRECT RESPONSE. Any response that is a less than accurate representation of what you are really thinking and/or feeling at the time.

REFLECTING BACK.  The pivotal part of active listening.  Each person rephrases and repeats the message and seeks clarification of their understanding.

TOXIC RESPONSE. A negative response that does nothing to clarify, add or advance the discussion, communication or relationship.  It can actually regress the discussion.  It's the opposite of a helping response.