Essentials of Good Communication

Essentials of Good Communication

Listen

Always start by emptying out all your pre-conceptions of what you know. Have an open mind about what the other party has to say.

Do not interrupt

Allow the other party to fully express their concerns. Suppress any urge to cut in with your own.

Avoid pointing fingers

Placing blame always comes across as an excuse and will quickly alienate the other party.

Be clear and concise

Beating about the bush or sticking to generalize can confuse those you are interacting with. Be as specific as you can and leave no room for doubt.

Repeat the other person’s views

Always repeat what the other party has expressed to ensure you fully understand their point of view.

Provide feedback

Without interrupting the speaker, inject some neutral statements, such as “oh,” or “I see” to show that they have your undivided attention and that you follow their train of thought.

Show empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand the emotion behind the other party’s arguments, especially when the topic is a sensitive one.

Pay attention to non-verbal signs

The body language of the other party will give you important additional information about what they are expressing. Sometimes these cues may even reveal a more truthful view of the situation.

Communication Skills for Nurses

For a nurse, the ability to communicate is a very important skill and a vital part of the job. Nurses speak to people of varying educational, cultural and social backgrounds and must do so in an effective, caring and professional manner, especially when communicating with patients and their family.

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” - Mother Theresa

If you are looking to improve your communication skills, here are ten tips that may help:

1. Speak Slowly

Certain words sound very similar to one another if they are spoken very quickly.

Take time to speak slowly and carefully, and your words may be less likely to be mistaken by others.

2. Speak Clearly, Not Loudly

Instead of speaking louder, try speaking more clearly, especially when communicating with older patients.

3. Avoid Using Slang

A common mistake that many people make is to try to use bigger and more complicated words. Another common mistake is to try to use slang terms that are not fitting or appropriate. Avoid both of these mistakes for better communication.

4. Remember Your Audience

What you might say to a doctor or a fellow nurse might be very different from what you would say to a patient or a patient’s family. Choose your words to fit the situation and the audience.

5. Stop and Listen

One of the most important skills you can have for effective communication is being able to actually stop and listen to what is being said by the other person. Listening is a very powerful communication tool.

6. Reflect

To make sure that the communication is flowing, learn the simple trick of reflecting on what the person is saying to you. To do so, you simply repeat what has been said in your own words, back to the person. If you are wrong, the person can say so before you walk away.

7. Use Body Language

In addition to the words that you say, you communicate with those around you with your face, your hands your posture etc. Make sure that what you are saying and what your body is saying are in agreement, and you are not sending conflicting messages.

8. Know Your Communication Roadblock

If you have ever stumbled on a word or you have ever found yourself so frustrated that you could not communicate at all, then you know the roadblocks. Disintegrate and then learn ways to manage such situations better.

9. Consider Learning a Foreign Language

It might sound strange but learning a new language puts you in better touch with your native tongue and can open your eyes to the way you use the words you already know.

10. Don’t Forget Other Methods of Communication

In addition to speaking and listening, don’t forget that there are other skills that you should work on such as reading and writing.