Communication is a two-way street and highly nuanced, so it’s no surprise that communication can be challenging in healthcare when working in high-pressure conditions.
Add to that the complexities of using new tools for collaboration, and you have a recipe for miscommunication. After all, who hasn’t ever had their “reply all” button accidentally clicked on? While those mistakes are easily explained, others aren’t so simple. Here are some tips and tricks for improving your communication skills.
Communication is a fluid process that involves several steps.
The process of communication is not as simple as it might seem. It’s not just about what you say but how you say it; it’s also about how you listen and respond. And that’s an oversimplification of the situation! So, let’s break down these three steps:
- What you say
- How you say it (tone, volume, etc.)
- How others interpret what they hear
Communication includes the words we say and the way we say them.
Effective communication is more than just the words we say. It’s also how we say them, listen, and react to what is said. You may think you’re communicating well when someone has finished speaking, but if they feel like they have not been listened to or understood, then your communication was ineffective.
Communication isn’t just about listening; it’s also about responding to what is heard – whether in person, via email, or written communication (e-communication).
Communication is a two-way process.
You may think that communication is all about speaking, but it’s really not. Communication is also about listening and listening for what isn’t being said. In other words, it’s about paying attention to the unspoken rules of conversation. The ability to discern those rules can make or break your success in any situation where you have to communicate with other people who aren’t like you—which is pretty much any workplace!
Good communication means you hear and are heard, which makes using the right tools essential.
Effective communication means you hear and are heard. This is the most important part of any conversation, but it’s also the hardest to do well. To make sure your message gets across clearly and concisely, we have a few tips for you:
Great listeners listen attentively and politely for as long as necessary without interrupting or commenting on what has been said until the speaker has finished speaking.
Great speakers speak clearly and concisely in an organized fashion that always makes sense to the listener during discussions or presentations. They don’t use jargon or slang unless it’s appropriate for their audience; if they do use those terms, they explain their meaning when needed (or else why bother?)
Non-threatening communicators speak from a place of authority without seeming threatening or intimidating while maintaining eye contact with whomever they’re communicating with as often as possible throughout each interaction; this helps build trust between parties involved in conversations/discussions/presentations etc., which leads to better understanding between both sides of any exchange happening between two or more individuals talking about something work-related.
Barriers to effective communication exist within and outside of healthcare facilities and can be challenging to overcome
The list of possible barriers is long, but here are a few common ones:
- Lack of time is the most common barrier you may face, especially when you’re in triage mode or caring for acutely ill patients or under duress. There’s just not enough time!
- A lack of information results from a lack of staff knowledge about what their colleagues do regularly, which can create confusion – especially when multiple people are coming together around one patient (or situation).
- Lack of training opportunities means that many staff members don’t know how best to communicate with each other effectively; they may not know what methods will work best for them as individuals—and this leads us back around again to those first two points: lack of time & lack of information! It’s easy enough when things go well—but when things get complicated…well, it gets tricky quickly!
Key Takeaways
It’s worth noting that communication is more than just the words we say. It’s also how we say them and the context in which they are said. Your tone and body language can speak volumes, even when your mouth stays closed.
Communication isn’t just a transactional process; it’s a relationship-building one. We communicate with those around us to form connections, whether they be professional or personal in nature. In healthcare, it’s important to take this approach to communication because developing positive relationships with patients is an important part of keeping them healthy and happy throughout their treatment process. In your opinion, what are some ways to communicate more effectively? Leave your comments down below!
