Nonviolent Communication  (NVC) is a way of communicating that allows us to stay connected to compassion and speak and act in a way that is in alignment with our desire to hold our needs and the needs of others with consideration. 

It is a process created by Marshall Rosenberg, founder of the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC).

The first component involves differentiating between an observation and evaluation and being able to state an observation instead of an evaluation (moralistic judgement, label, diagnosis, etc.). An example is: "I notice (see, hear, etc.) ... that you were 30 minutes late." 

The second component involves sharing our feelings without mixing in thoughts. Example: 
"I feel frustrated ...."

The third step involves sharing your needs by accepting responsibility for your feelings. Example: "... because I need cooperation. 

The fourth component involves making a specific action request that will meet your need. Example: "Would you be willing to put the dishes in the dishwasher?"

When listening to others, we can apply the four components of nonviolent communication. This often begins with observing what might be triggering an unpleasant feeling in the other person. However, in many cases, we can skip the observation and simply ask, “Are you feeling frustrated because you need more cooperation?”

From there, we can offer a suggestion to help meet that need—for example: “How about we work together to put the dishes away after dinner?”