Basics of NVC

Some people know Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as giraffe language. The giraffe has the largest heart of all the land mammals. A giraffe’s heart is about 3 feet long and weighs about 24 pounds. NVC, or giraffe language, focuses on expressing what is in the heart (feelings and needs) and hearing what is in the heart. For this reason is also known as the “Language of the Heart.” The idea is that by staying in touch with what is in the heart we are able to stay connected to that which serves life.

 

EXPRESSING OURSELVES

 

The first step in NVC involves stating the facts (an observation) without making an evaluation (moralistic judgement, diagnosis, etc.). The cardinal giraffe rule is: “Do not judge.” So many times we diagnose others and their behavior instead of making an observation. For instance, an evaluation might sound like, “You never wash the dishes and are lazy.”

 

In NVC we might say, “I noticed that you did not wash the stack of dishes today.”

 

The second step involves sharing our feelings without mixing in thoughts.

 

We would say, “I feel frustrated.

 

The third step involves sharing your needs. Here we would follow the feeling expressed above with a need. We accept responsibility for our feelings and don’t blame others for our feelings. For instance we might say, “I feel frustrated because I need cooperation.”

 

The fourth step involves making a specific request that will meet your need. We can say, “Would you be willing to wash the dishes within the next hour?

 

LISTENING TO OTHERS

 

Giraffes also focus on listening to others feelings and needs by fishing for their needs. This can be done by making an observation of what might be stimulating an unpleasant feeling in the person (step one). But many times the observation can be dropped and we can just simply ask the question, “Are you feeling frustrated because you need cooperation?” (steps two and three)

 

Then a suggestion can be made to try to meet the need. (step four)