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The unexpected benefits of family meetings

Writer's picture: AmalAmal



Family life can be busy, full of activity, emotions and occasional conflict in the midst of stressful schedules for each member. Specially teenagers trying to find their place in life, and figure-out what they can be. All individual need to achieve or  pursuits their goals in life. It's easy for families to drift apart, losing touch with each other's needs, and perspectives. One simple yet powerful tool, that can dramatically improve family cohesion, and communication is simply have a family meeting, often viewed as mandatory or even intimidating task. Family meetings honestly, when approached correctly, can foster a sense of unity, understanding, and shared purpose, within a family. They're not about lecturing, or more imposing rules, but about creating a safe space for open communication, and collaborative problem solving.

Is holding family meetings has benefits?

·         Regular family meetings, extend far beyond simply improving communication, they provide a structured opportunity for, strengthening family bonds, spending dedicated time together, free from distractions, allows family members to connect on a deeper level, sharing experiences, listening to each other’s concerns, and engaging in collaborative activities, foster a stronger sense of belonging, and mutual support.

·         Improving communication skills in family meetings, can provide a platform for practising essential communication skills, such as active listening, empathy, and expressing thoughts, and feelings constructively by learning to communicate effectively, within the family unit.

·         Teenagers and children can develop valuable skills, that will serve them well in all aspects of their lives, arguments resolutions, disagreements and conflicts evitable in any family meetings, can provide a structured environment for addressing conflicts, constructively, rather than allowing tensions to simmer.

·          Family members can learn to express their concerns, negotiate solutions, and find mutually acceptable compromises.

·         Collaborative decision making, during family meetings, offer the opportunity for family decision making, on various aspects of family life, from planning family activities, and vacations, to discussing household chores, and responsibilities, involving everyone in the decision making process, fosters a sense of ownership, and shared responsibility in bill setting, and achievement.

·          family meetings can also be used, to set shared family goals, and track progress towards achieving them, this can be anything, from improving academic performance, to maintaining a healthier lifestyle, while completing a home improvement project, working together towards shared goals, strengthens family bonds, and reinforces the importance of collaboration, and mutual support.

How to hold effective family meetings?

 The success of family meetings hinges on, creating a positive and supportive environment.

Here is some tips for making your family meetings effective:

·         Establish a regular schedule, as consistency is the key to success, scheduled meetings at a time that works for everyone, and stick to it, as much as possible, making sure you don't put any pressure on teenager or making them feeling vulnerable or forced to come to the meeting.

·         Create a safe, and respectful environment, establish ground rules, that ensure everyone feels safe to express their thoughts, and feelings without fear of judgement, or criticism.

·         Focus on positive interactions, begin each meeting with a positive note, such as sharing something good that happened during the week, use an agenda to help keep the meeting focused and productive.

·         Try to clear time for open discussion, as well as specific topics, that need to be addressed.

·         Practise active listening, encourage family members to listen actively to each other, without interrupting, end on a positive note.

·         Conclude the meeting by acknowledgement of one's contributions, and looking forward to the next meeting.

·         Family meetings are not a quick fix to family problems, but a proactive tool for building, stronger, healthier, and more communicative relationships among family members.

·         By allowing regular time to connect, communicate, and collaborate, families can create a more supportive, and fulfilling environment, for everyone investing this time in family unity, resilience, and overall, the well-being of the whole family .

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