Be Effective Interpersonally (Part II)
Goal
To achieve objective, relationship, and self-respect effectiveness.
Relationship Effectiveness Exercise (Fulton State Hospital, p. 24)
Instructions: The “GIVE” approach can be used to help you obtain and keep good relationships. Use this approach at least once this week. Then, reflect on the process and evaluate what went well and what areas need more practice.
| Gentle | Be courteous in your approach. Express anger directly, tolerate a “no” to requests, stay in the discussion even if it gets painful, and exit gracefully. |  |
| Interested | Listen and be interested in the person. Listen to the other person’s point of view, opinion, reasons for saying “no”, or reasons for making a request of you. | |
| Validate | Validate the person’s feelings, wants, difficulties, and opinions about the situation. | |
| Easy Manner | Use a little humor. Smile. Ease the person along. Be light-hearted. |
Self-Respect Effectiveness Exercise (Fulton State Hospital, p. 25)
Instructions: The “FAST” approach can be used to help you keep or improve your self-respect. Use this approach at least once this week. Then, reflect on the process and evaluate what went well and what areas need more practice.
| Fair | Be fair to yourself and to the other person. |
| Apologies | No overly apologetic behavior. No apologizing for having an opinion or for disagreeing. |
| Stick | Stick to your own values. |
| Truthful | Don’t lie, exaggerate, nor make up excuses. Don’t act helpless when you are not. |
