Don't Mom Alone Podcast People Skills That Strengthen Friendships, Marriage, and Family :: Debra Fileta [Ep 554]
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Jan 5, 2026 
Debra Fileta, a licensed professional counselor and bestselling author, shares her expertise on enhancing communication in relationships. She highlights the importance of genuine connection in a tech-driven world, stressing that effective interactions rely on tone, body language, and self-awareness. Debra breaks down four communication styles—assertive, aggressive, passive, and passive-aggressive—and emphasizes the need for vulnerability in conversations. She encourages nurturing deep friendships while also advocating for self-care. People skills can be learned and improved!
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Tech Reduces Real-Life Social Practice
- Our tech-saturated world has reduced real-life practice of tone, facial expressions, and two-way conversation.
- Debra Fileta says keyboard conversations lack the feedback loop that builds people skills.
Begin With Self-Awareness
- Start with self-awareness and ask the Holy Spirit or trusted others to show blind spots.
- Use exercises (like imagining entering a room of strangers) to objectively identify your natural social bent.
Friend's Compliment Changed A Room
- Heather describes attending her husband's company party nervously and getting reassurance from a friend.
- The friend's compliment shifted Heather's belief and helped her engage confidently with several people.
