Passive communication is a type of communication in which the sender of a message does not express their opinions, assessments, feelings, or knowledge. For example: Yes, I’ll do the report without help. [But the person feels they need help to do it.]
Unlike assertive communication , passive communication is characterized by messages that aren’t entirely clear or simply don’t express what the person really thinks. The posture and tone of voice of the person delivering a passive message tend to demonstrate insecurity or a lack of confidence.
Passive statements are rarely constructed in the first person singular (I) because they usually involve generalizations and impersonal expressions, such as the plural for generalizations or the passive with se . For example: They say it’s better to put a light color with a dark one in a logo, instead of putting two dark colors. [On the other hand, to express an opinion, this sentence would begin with “I think it’s better…”]
This type of communication seeks to avoid confrontation with the recipients of the message, but it has significant disadvantages because it is not productive for solving problems or achieving an exchange of ideas.
- See also: Elements of communication
Examples of passive communication
- Yes, well, he probably explained it better than I did. [However, the person believes he explained it well.]
- Sorry, I won’t be commenting further on this work. [But the person does want to give their opinion on the work.]
- Customers may think the product looks better this way. [However, they think the product doesn’t look good this way.]
- Do you think the manager will like this idea, or should we think of another one? [Instead of saying that he wants to tell the manager about this idea.]
- I’m not sure my answer was correct, what do you think? [However, his answer was correct.]
- Sorry, I shouldn’t have added those subtitles to the article. [But I think subtitles are fine.]
- Yes, we’ll do what John says, because he knows more about these things than I do. [However, he thinks it’s necessary to do something different than what John said.]
- I will do it exactly as the client requested. [Although he realizes the client made some mistakes.]
- Okay, we’ll paint all the door frames light yellow. [But he really doesn’t like that color.]
- We’ll have the meeting at that time. I’ll come in early so I’ll be at the office on time. [Although he has to come in later.]
- If you say so, I’ll change all the centerpieces again. [Even if she likes the ones she just placed.]
- Okay, we’ll take the long way because you like it better. [But he’s tired and really prefers to take a shorter route.]
- Sorry, I must have been confused. [But he knows his coworker was confused.]
- Okay, I’ll take the dog out today too. [But he always takes him out.]
- If you’re okay with it, we’ll include the sax solo in the song. [But this person doesn’t really like that sax solo.]
- It’s a lot of money to invest, but if you think it’s a risk we should take, we will. [He agrees to make the investment, but it doesn’t seem like a safe bet.]
- Okay, I won’t talk about it at the press conference. [However, he thinks it’s great news that he’ll be starting to play for another team.]
- If the contest judge says the other contestant played honestly, I won’t complain. [But he realized the other contestant cheated.]
- Okay, we won’t change the car this year. [But he feels it’s urgent to change it.]
- Yes, I’ll correct all the mistakes today. [But you know the mistakes were made in another department of the company.]
- I’ll do the project in relation to what the majority wants to do. [But they actually have other ideas for the project.]
- Yes, you can correct anything you want in the report. [But he doesn’t agree with correcting everything.]
- Work is best done when the whole team’s ideas are heard. [Instead of suggesting that everyone has to express their ideas.]
- It’s rare that anyone would want to vote for that candidate. [Instead of saying they don’t want to vote for that candidate.]
- People say it’s a nice place to spend the summer. [But they mean they want to go there in the summer.]
- It’s better when you consult about how to do this type of work better. [Instead of saying, “I think we need to consult about how to do this type of work.”]
- I don’t know, I’m not sure I want to go to the park. [Instead of saying that he doesn’t want to go to the park.]
- Okay, we’ll go see that movie. [However, he wants to go see another movie.]
- Yes, the client is absolutely right. [However, he thinks the client is wrong.]
- I’m very tired, but I’ll go with you anyway. [But she really doesn’t want to go.]
- That dress probably looks better than the other one in the window. [However, she thinks the other one looks better.]
- We’ll go to the restaurant you prefer. [Instead of saying which restaurant you actually want to go to.]
- Food consumption is not permitted on the premises. [Instead of stating that you do not like people eating in that part of the office.]
- They say it’s not a good idea to go on the highway at this time. [Instead of saying he prefers to go on the avenue.]
- It’s rare that one would stop to look at that poster; one could say it doesn’t attract much attention. [Instead of saying that he doesn’t like the idea his colleagues proposed for the advertising poster.]
- People don’t usually wear dark clothing to a picnic lunch. [Instead of saying that they don’t think it’s a good idea to wear dark clothing.]
- It’s a good idea to change your sales strategy slightly. [Instead of expressing your idea for the sales strategy.]
- There’s so much noise that you can’t concentrate on working. [Instead of telling your coworkers that you can’t work if they’re talking so loud.]
- Many people will like that idea. [Instead of saying that he likes that idea very much.]
- It’s better to travel by subway than by bus, because the former is faster. [However, he prefers to go by bus rather than the subway.]
- Many people would consider such an expense unnecessary. [But in reality, they think it shouldn’t be spent.]
- Yes, that may be so. [But he doesn’t really agree with what his interlocutor told him.]
- When you finish the report, submit it. [Instead of demanding that they submit the report by a certain time.]
- I’ll try to go to your book launch. [But he’d really rather not go.]
- Well, when you think it’s appropriate, we’ll talk about the presentation. [But I really think it’s important to talk about it as soon as possible.]
- If you like this design better, we’ll use it. [But he actually likes another design better.]
- Okay, if you think the engine replacement is out of reach, no problem. [But you really think your car has been repaired incorrectly.]
- The plate is cold, but I’m not going to complain. [But he actually prefers to ask for it to be replaced.]
- We’ll end the meeting whenever you see fit. [However, you think it’s time to leave.]
- The presentation was good. [But he really thinks it wasn’t a good presentation.]
