Avoidance is a destructive communication style where an offended individual withdraws from and interacts minimally with the perceived source of offense in order to minimize interaction, leading to broken trust and drifting relationships. To address avoidance, one should confront the issue directly through assertive but non-confrontational communication like letters, emails or calls instead of maliciously withdrawing, and do so without damaging the other person's ego while standing up for oneself.

1. HANDLING AVOIDANCE IN COMMUNICATION
Avoidance is a destructive style of communication where an offended individual withdraws from a supposed close
or friendly relationship and keeps to him/herself as much as possible.
This is, for instance, where a colleague in the same office suddenly assumes quietness or talks less whenever you are
around; not for want of what to say but just so as to minimize how much the 2 of you will interact.
Avoidance is a major drift creator and leads to breaking bond and trust.
To tackle avoidance, 3 approaches are:
1. Tell yourself that there is no offence big enough to reduce you to a malice keeper.
2. You may be hurting deeply and may not be able to control your feelings when you decide to confront the
offender. If this is the case, express yourself using other forms of communication. This could be a handwritten note,
an email, an SMS, a phone call (where you do not have to see the offender), etc.
The idea is to break the ice and speak your mind.
3. Be Assertive as you express yourself. Being Angry is NOT a license to diminish another person’s ego.
Whatever the offence, please don’t AVOID the offender; face it head on.