Communication skills for healthcare professionals

1. Effective Communication
Skills

2. Learning objectives?
 What is communication?
 Types of communication
 Levels of communication
 Keys to Powerful communication

3. What is Communication?
• Communication is a transfer of information from a sender to a
receiver with the information being understood by the receiver.

4. Types of communication?
 Verbal
 Non Verbal
 Written

5. Levels of communication
• Intrapersonal communication • Interpersonal communication • Small group discussion
• Mass communication • One to group communication

6. 6 Keys of Powerful Communication
• Assertiveness
• Authenticity
• Open mindedness
• Empathy
• Clarity
• Listening

7. Assertiveness
• Assertive communication enables us to care effectively for others and
also the means by which our own needs are met.
• You can communicate not just using words — you can communicate using
body language, imagery and other things.

8. Characteristics of Assertive communication
• Eye Contact
• Appearance
• Body language
• Distance
• Gesture
• Facial expression/ Tone of voice
• Fluency

9. Authenticity
• Being True to yourself
• Identify your values
• Identify your boundaries and own agenda

10. Open Mindedness
• Willing to consider other perspectives, alternate
scenario and ideas
• Be open to listening to and understanding the
other persons point of view, rather than simply
getting your message across

11. Empathy
• Feeling for others
• It creates a common ground
• Mirror neuron allows us to have
empathy with other human beings
• Other person wants to feel like
they’re being heard and
understood

12. Clarity
• Clarity is about getting your intention in line with what the other person
actually perceives
• Avoid camouflaged words, very long sentences, unfamiliar words, etc.
• The more clarity you use in communication, less likely it will be misinterpreted
• DO NOT MUMBLE
• Accurate
• Slow your speech down, Use right words
• Use appropriate volume

13. Listening
• People want to feel like they’re being listened to. They don’t want to
just be talked at. They have to be listened to.
• Be an active listener by nodding the head or by making little
comments between the conversation.

14.  Being Assertive
 Being True to yourself
 Opening Your Mind
 Feeling For Others
 Communicating Clearly
 Listening Closely

15. References
• Nirmala Rege, Avinash Supe; The Art of teaching medical students,3rd edition, Chap
Communication Skills
• Philip Burnard; Effective Communication Skills for health professionals, 2nd edition
• http://www.actualized.org/articles/communication-skills

16. Thank You