Active Constructive Responding (ACR) is a powerful communication skill that can promote positive emotions and enhance the quality of your relationships when you show more interest, support, and enthusiasm for other people’s good news. You’re using ACR effectively when you:
- Provide authentic, enthusiastic support
- Are curious and encourage the person to share more details
- Match the person’s excitement and uplift them further
To gain the benefits of ACR and improve communication, use the worksheet below to reflect on what enables you to use ACR and then build strategic habits to use it more often. The first part of this worksheet explains four different responding styles people typically engage in when hearing someone’s good news. Later on, you’ll explore what could cause you to engage in these responding styles with the important people in your life.
Published on: July 3, 2024
De Netto, P. M., et al. (2021). Communication, the heart of a relationship: Examining capitalization, accommodation, and self-construal on relationship satisfaction. Front Psychol 12: 767908. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.767908
Paakkanen, M. A., et al. (2021). Responding to positive emotions at work - The four steps and potential benefits of a validating response to coworkers' positive experiences. Front Psychol 12: 668160. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.668160
Passmore, J. and L. G. Oades (2022). Positive psychology techniques – Active constructive responding. The Coaching Psychologist 10(2). doi: 10.1002/9781119835714.ch47
Richter, S., et al. (2021). Positive psychological coaching tools and techniques: A systematic review and classification. Front Psychiatry 12: 667200. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.667200