Higgs, McAllister and Sefton (2005)
Understand the topic or the message that you are communicating
- Do you understand what you would like to communicate about?
- Have you thought about it from different perspectives (pros, cons)?
Explain well: identify the key points and communicate them clearly to the receiver
- What do you want to communicate?
- Who is involved?
- Where and when is it occurring?
- How does it work?
- Why does to work?
- Why should this happen?
Remember, explanations need to be clear, relevant and appropriate in terms of length, style and content.
Be person-centred
It is important to hear and understand the sender’s message and acknowledge the message and the person. To do this engage in:
- Active listening – pay attention, use body language to show that you are interested
- Understanding – demonstrate that you are willing to explore the other person’s point of view
- Cultural competence – seek to understand what it means to be in the culture of the person you are communicating with
- Self-monitor
Be aware of how you are communicating and how successful your communication is.
Be professional
- Show respect for people
- Provide sound evidence for your decision
- Work within the code of conduct for your profession
Reflection
Identify a situation (either clinical or during a student placement) where there was a breakdown in communication.
State what the problem was.
Identify where the communication breakdown occurred (e.g. unclear verbal information, lack of written information, expectations not clearly communicated).
What strategies would have worked in this situation?
