To communicate effectively means that the speaker has to get his intended message across to the listener, in its entirety. In order to achieve this goal, several barriers such as language, culture and perception have to be overcome.
Why is effective communication important in the first place? The answer to that is simple - we all want to be understood by our intended audience but without effective communication, our intended message might be misinterpreted or lost.
Due to the fact that people have varying degrees of knowledge, the speaker has to change his choice of words to suit the level of the listener. For example, for a doctor to communicate effectively with his patient, he cannot use too many technical terms as the patient would only be confused. Instead, the doctor must choose terms that a lay person who has not undergone medical training can understand. This might not come naturally to everyone and would require practice. Through trial and error, one learns how to switch between different registers when communicating to different people. With practice, the speaker could communicate effectively with the listener at ease after identifying the type of words, language and tone that he should use.
However, not only are speaking skills important in effective communication, listening skills are equally important. A good and active listener should show genuine interest and encourage the speaker to go on. Eye contact, attentive silence and verbal encouragers are some of skills an active listener should possess. For example, an employer who fidgets constantly with wandering eyes is going to make the boss annoyed and not want to continue with the conversation. Instead of communicating, the boss gets angry and the employer gets listed in the black books. To avoid being in that sticky situation, one should take the time to learn how to be an active listener.
Hence, effective communication skills are important to us in all aspects of life and we should practice and hone our speaking and listening skills in order for our conversations to be meaningful.
Hi Ally! You have brought up a point I had in mind – the doctor-patient relationship. It is really important for doctors to be able to communicate effectively with their patients. It is actually one of the requirements as doctors to know how to convey messages to their patients in an unambiguous manner but at the same time taking into considerations the impact of words on the patients. Not only doctors, but everyone has to be careful with their use of words as there will always be someone who will interpret the message of sender slightly differently based on their environment, attitude and varying viewpoints.
ReplyDeleteHey Ally! Probably haven't seen me in class yet... but why do I have a question mark beside my name in your link? haha, just asking =)
ReplyDeleteOkay, back to the point. A pretty nice piece of write up on communicating effectively. Indeed speaking and listening must work hand in hand in order to attain effective communication. I particularly like when you mentioned trial and error to learn what to say to whom and when to say to whom. I had my share of error when it comes to that. haha, let's look forward to reducing that come this semester!
Hi Ally, I feel that professional barrier is very hard to overcome, as the doctor has been learning about all the medical terms throughout their entire school term. It will be hard for them to be able to translate those sophisticated terms into simple words which the patients can understand. Not sure if they have a module like ES2007S which is not just about communication, but effective communication. The doctor will have to practice a lot to be able to deliver the message.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, with the help of internet and education, doctor can use moderate medical terms as we have been taught briefly in school or on news of the common medical issues. We can also search online for the specific medical terms to further understand instead of wasting the doctor precious time to explain to us.
Hi Ally!
ReplyDeleteI do agree with what you have pointed out with regards to choice of words with reference to the listener. Most of the time, people enter a conversation without realizing that the terminology and the numerous jargon that they are using may not be easily understood by the opposite party. They will frequently forget that they may be talking to a certain somebody who may be a total novice at what they are talking about. I believe this has been termed as the curse of knowledge.
Good point you have made! (:
Hey partner!
ReplyDeleteI think you have hit the nail on it's head about effective communication. Communication is a two way traffic between the speaker and the listener. This vital point has not been grasp by many and most would just focus on the speaker instead. Indeed the example between the doctor and his patients is a good one. Imagine the confused looks elderly patients, who only have a relatively poor command of English, would get if they visit a doctor who can only converse in proper English!
Also, I agree with your point that effective communication can be akin to an art. Practice makes perfect. Just as with sports or studying, the more we practice, the more confident we feel about ourselves and our own abilities, thus allowing us to perform at a higher level. This reminds me of a recent movie, The King's Speech, about a King who has difficulty speaking in public. In the end, it shows that his hard work at learning and practicing paid off! An inspiration film that is worth watching especially in relation to this module!
Hi everyone! Glad you all found my post interesting enough to leave a comment! :) yup, I do believe that doctors have to be able to communicate effectively with their patients! Even if they've undergone professional training using medical terms, they should realise that not everyone has undergone the same training! They should switch their choice of words depending on their audience, "edema" to fellow professionals and "swelling" to the layman. I personally find this very important because I've gone to the doctor's before and was told I have xxxxx (cannot remember what the term is! Way too long and complicated). And preciously because it sounded so long and complicated, it sounded BAD. Like I've a bad disease or something. Then it turns out, it was just "over exertion of the tendons"...
ReplyDelete