5 Ways to Talk so your Husband will Listen
by Cindi McMenamin
Now that Valentine’s Day is approaching, do you find that you’d like to “up” the romantic factor in your home?
That might be a bit difficult if you feel your husband isn’t the listening kind. In case you feel he is tone deaf to your frequency or he’s hearing a tone you didn’t mean to imply or words you’re sure you didn’t say, it could be time to do a few things so your husband will listen attentively.
After being married for 30 years, and ministering to women and couples for nearly that long, I’ve discovered that what we say, as well as how and when we say it can make all the difference when it comes to whether or not our husbands are really listening.
Based on interviews with hundreds of couples over the years in order to write my books, When a Woman Inspires Her Husband and 12 Ways to Experience More with Your Husband, here are just five ways to talk so your husband will listen…
- Talk him up.
You, as your husband’s wife, have the ability to light him up more than anyone else. Your compliments and praise can go further than anyone else’s. Your pride in him is far more important to him than his mother’s, or even his children’s. He truly wants to know you think the world of him. And he wants the world to know it, too. I’ve never heard of a husband who didn’t listen intently when his wife was talking him up in public.
So, if you feel your husband is not a “listener” when it comes to what you have to say, start building him up with your words – to him and to others. Practice Ephesians 4:29: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
When you practice lighting him up, talking him up, and saying what is helpful to him, according to what he needs in the moment, you’ll have a man waiting with bated breath to hear what you have to say next.
- Talk softly.
If you want to capture someone’s attention, whisper. That was a sound byte for a perfume commercial years ago, but it works in marriage, too. Even when you’ve been married awhile and your husband is accustomed to your voice.
I used to think if I talked louder, I’d be heard above the noise of everyone and everything else. But lately, I’m finding the opposite is true. When I make an effort to be a little quieter, my husband gets quiet in order to hear what I’m saying. (This works especially well if you’re not one to normally keep the volume down.) Proverbs 15:1 says “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” A gentle voice can also turn a husband’s ear toward his wife. Be gentle and soft with both your words and your mannerisms and you may find your husband’s ear is a little more tuned to your softer frequency.
- Talk less.
It’s a fact that men, by and large, don’t want to know every detail. They want to know the bottom line. So, when it comes to sharing the details of your day, or just sharing what’s on your heart, less is more. Dragnet’s Sgt. Joe Friday often implored female informants to provide “Just the facts, ma’am.” That is good advice when telling wives how to communicate with their husbands, as well.
Men tend to hear the first two or three sentences and then begin to tune out. So, say what you need to say in the first couple of sentences, and leave it at that. Don’t do as I used to do and bombard him with so many details that he stares at you, blankly. If you need to talk with him about something that will take some time, let him know there’s an issue you need to talk about (and clue him in on what it is to put his mind at ease) and ask when would be a good time to address it.
- Talk playfully.
I recently observed a man and his girlfriend sitting next to me on the airplane. At first, she was so giddy I was nauseated. But I noticed she had his ear. And his eyes. And his full attention. She even got a few kisses and tender touches during that flight, too. There was laughter, teasing, and an overall flirtation going on.
If you’ve been married awhile, it might be difficult to get back that flirty tone and have fun with your husband again. But, think of yourself as his girlfriend and lover, rather than his mother; or as his playmate, not his business partner and you may find he enjoys your voice again and is eager to hear what you will say next. Flirt as you talk. Use your honeymoon voice. You will get – and keep – his attention.
- Talk at the right time.
Choosing your timing is just as important as choosing your words. When your husband walks through the door and he’s tired, hungry, and focused on cleaning up, eating and relaxing, that is probably not the best time to hit him up with what just broke down, the outstanding bill you can’t pay, your child’s failing grade at school, or some relational issues. Proverbs 15:23 says: “A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word!”
Start by asking him when might be a good time to catch up with each other. Or, as a rule, make sure any “housekeeping” items are texted or emailed during the day so that you can both focus on more quality time when you are together at home at the end of a long day. Timing is everything when it comes to talking so that your husband will listen.
~ Cindi
Cindi McMenamin is a national speaker and award-winning author of more than a dozen books. She helps women and couples strengthen their relationship with God and with each other. She and her husband, Hugh, have been married 30 years and co-authored the book, When Couples Walk Together: 31 Days to a Closer Connection. Cindi has also written When Women Walk Alone (more than 130,000 copies sold), When a Woman Inspires Her Husband, Drama Free, and Letting God Meet Your Emotional Needs. For more on Cindi’s resources, including her newest book, 12 Ways to Experience More with Your Husband, see her website: www.StrengthForTheSoul.com.
