{"id":9184,"date":"2026-04-27T14:55:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T21:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/safecarebc.ca\/?post_type=info-sheet&#038;p=9184"},"modified":"2026-05-12T09:17:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T16:17:38","slug":"the-power-of-i-statements","status":"publish","type":"info-sheet","link":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/?info-sheet=the-power-of-i-statements","title":{"rendered":"The power of \"I\" statements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shifting from blame to connection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cI\u201d-statements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An \u201cI\u201d statement is a way to speak that focuses on your own experience rather than pointing out what someone else did \u201cwrong.\u201d By removing blame, judgment and assumptions, you make it easier for others to hear you without getting defensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 3-part formula<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To build a genuine \u201cI\u201d statement, try this simple structure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cI feel [emotion] \u2026 when [action\/situation] \u2026<br>because [impact on you].\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other helpful starters:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cI prefer\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cI believe\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flip the script<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See how a small shift in words changes the energy of a conversation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>Instead of saying\u2026 (\u201cYou\u201d statements)<\/td><td> Try saying\u2026 (\u201cI\u201d statements)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u201cYou can never be on time. You are being inconsiderate.\u201d<\/td><td>\u201cI feel frustrated when we can\u2019t start on time. It makes it harder for me to stay organized.\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u201cYou are being disrespectful by ignoring my messages.\u201d<\/td><td>\u201cI feel disrespected when my messages are not answered. Can we find a way to stay in touch?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\u201cYou are not explaining this well at all.\u201d <\/td><td>\u201cI want to make sure I understand. Could you tell me a bit more about how this started?\u201d<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch out for fake \u201cI\u201d-statements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simply starting a sentence with the word \u201cI\u201d does not make it a supportive statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The trap<\/strong>: \u201cI feel that you are being selfish.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The problem<\/strong>: This is still a judgment; it is just disguised.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The fix:<\/strong> A genuine \u201cI\u201d statement focuses only on your own feelings and experience, not a verdict on the other person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take it home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The habits we use at work are often the same ones we use at home. Practicing \u201cI\u201d statements can improve your relationships with your partner, children, and friends. It helps reduce the \u201clow-grade tension\u201d that comes from constant conflict.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cI\u201d statements help shift difficult conversations from blame to connection. By focusing on your own feelings, the situation, and its impact, you can reduce defensiveness, improve understanding, and build healthier communication habits at work and at home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":9186,"template":"","tags":[],"audience":[118],"topic":[236,398,209,409],"class_list":["post-9184","info-sheet","type-info-sheet","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","audience-audience","topic-civility-and-respect","topic-communication-2","topic-organizational-culture","topic-phs-days"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/info-sheet\/9184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/info-sheet"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/info-sheet"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9184"},{"taxonomy":"audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Faudience&post=9184"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftopic&post=9184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}