This September, the MedHQ team is participating in our second consecutive year of the Metro Chicago Heart Walk, sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA). The Chicago walk, along with many others across the country, will raise money for cardiovascular research, a cause our team cares deeply about. We are committed to helping people live healthier lives and equipping healthcare organizations to better serve their patients.
Each month leading up to the walk, we are highlighting a new tip focused on one of our favorite sayings at MedHQ: “We are at the heart of healthcare businesses.” Check out our past posts: 1) maintain a diverse workforce, 2) create a positive workplace, 3) keep your employees engaged.
This month’s tip: learn to communicate more effectively.
Good communication is essential to the success of your business. It allows your team to work together and with clients more productively and harmoniously, and it mitigates misunderstandings and conflict. Does your organization have a culture of clear and thoughtful communication? Follow these tips to make small but effective improvements.
Stay Focused
In meetings and conversations with employees, concentrate on what other people are saying and what overall objective you are trying to accomplish. Use clear, concise language, and convey confidence and openness with your body language: standing up straight, smiling, and making eye contact are small actions that make a big difference. While you’re speaking, pause to ask if people need elaboration or clarification. If the conversation starts to wander off track, practice guiding it back to the topic at hand.
Be an Active Listener
When others are speaking, give them your undivided attention instead of letting your mind wander or thinking about what you want to say next. Use active listening skills, paying attention to both their words and their non-verbal cues. Ask the speaker questions to make sure you are understanding what they are saying. Paraphrase what you heard and ask if it’s correct: “What you’re saying is that you want to do X, and to accomplish that, you need Y from us, is that right?”
Beware of Tech Traps
In digital communications – email, phone calls, text messages – you don’t have access to the same touchpoints you have in a face-to-face conversation. If you can’t see the other person’s eyes or body language or hear their tone of voice, you may misinterpret what they’re trying to say. To avoid misunderstandings, recognize the potential drawbacks that electronic communications can create, and put in extra effort to figure out the other person’s perspective. Assume the best from their intentions, and ask questions to clear up any confusion.
Learn more tips on improving how to communicate more effectively in your organization by downloading our eBook.
