Communicate with Care!: Tips for Effective Communications Month

Picture1Here at St. Anne’s (like anywhere else), we find that communication is very important.  Whether it be giving report to fellow staff or alerting a resident to an upcoming appointment, good communication is key.

As we near the end of June, which is recognized as “Effective Communications Month,” we’d like to share some tips to help you have better communication habits.

Our first tip concerns the way we respond to the communication of others.  We need to make an effort to truly “listen” to what someone is saying.  If we’re doing something else, it’s best to stop, make eye contact, and truly be attentive to a person who wants to talk to us.

Body language that says “I care; I’m listening.” is important, too.  It’s said that over half of communication is non-verbal.  What we say with our body is just as important as what comes out of our mouths.

Be courteous; do not interrupt someone when they’re talking to you.  Remember the give-and-take of good conversation and communication.

Think before you speak – pause to consider your words and their repercussions rather than simply saying the first thing that comes into your head.  You can eliminate a lot of problems this way.

Pass it on (We find this to be crucial in our work here at St. Anne’s.)  If someone gives you information that is important for others to know, make sure you pass it on.  You may want to make a note right away to ensure you remember to rely the information afterword.

Show you care: Utilizing the above techniques will help show the other person that you care about what they have to say, that you care about them. Show interest and ask questions.  Pay attention to the other person’s response and adapt accordingly.  Smile and give encouragements – who doesn’t like to get positive feedback?

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