Healthcare Training Institute - Quality Education since 1979

It goes without saying that clear communication is essential for implementing Culture Change and team building in your facility. However, the first step for you to be a clear communicator is to be aware of what is going on with you when you are communicating with that other staff member. For example, if you ask the physical therapist, Susan, to reschedule Esther to enable her to attend Bible study, you may get the feeling things aren’t going well.
Three Awareness Indicators that alert you to a problem with your Susan are your body, your emotions and the reoccurrence of Susan’s lack of action regarding your request. Let’s talk about the body first.

1. Your Body
Your body is a sensitive barometer regarding whether a communication is going well or not.
Physical clues are tightness in any form; for example, hands, toes curled, mouth and or tongue, stomach, breathing changes, holding breath; body temperature changes feeling flushing, blushing, etc.; headaches, stomachaches; backaches. Any of these reactions to anxiety or stress can be an alarm system if you are aware of them. You are going to receive some specific communication strategies, however you need to be aware of the signals your body is sending to you to decide whether you are communicating effectively or not.

In a few words, describe areas in which you body holds tension or you know that a communication is not going well.

2. Your Feelings
Emotional reactions go hand in hand with physical symptoms, as you are aware. The trick to emotional self awareness is to develop sensitivity to milder forms of feelings. The key is to notice milder feelings before they become emotional flooding. Here’s an example.

a. A general sense of feeling uneasy may be at the beginning with your conversation with Susan, the physical therapist.
b. Uneasiness may escalate over a period of days, weeks, or seconds to your feeling concern,
c. You then may feel frustrated, then upset.
When you are aware of your feelings towards your Susan, you start welcoming them and start using feelings as a valuable resource.

Think of a less than perfect encounter you have had with another staff member. Circle the following that apply. Am I at the uneasy stage? Concern? Frustrated? Upset? Angry? _______________ Other (fear, embarrassment, hurt)?

3. Reoccurring Problems or lack of Culture Change Compliance
in addition to increasing your awareness regarding the messages that your feelings and body are sending you, increase your awareness of the reoccurrence of a noncompliant action by your Susan.

In a few words, describe a situation in which you made a direct request of a specific staff member and he or she did not comply. For example, Susan did not change Esther’s PT schedule.

If your Susan continues to ignore your request, watch for a buildup of resentment, irritation, anger or anxiety on her part, your part, or both of your parts. Emotional buildups require attention because the longer you stay silent the harder it becomes to communicate effectively. Agree?

List the name of a staff member key to Culture Change implementation with whom you may have a history of emotional build-up.

In summary, we have discussed the need for an increased awareness of your body, emotions, and the emotional buildup resulting from a reoccurring problem. Now, for example, you have scheduled a meeting with Susan in her PT office this afternoon at 2:00. Here are some specific communication strategies…

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