Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is nonverbal communication?

Nonverbal communication includes tone of voice, body language, gestures, facial expressions, touch, and even the physical appearance of the speaker. Nonverbal communication delivers up to 70% of a message and often sends a message that is truer than the words spoken.

How can I improve my listening skills?

Listening actively and well takes effort and concentration. Some methods for improving listening skills include facing the speaker, clearing the mind of other thoughts and focusing on the speaker, not making value judgments about what the person is saying, mentally noting anything you do not understand, and not interrupting the speaker.

What is difference between empathy and sympathy?

Empathy is trying to understand the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of another person. It involves learning about his or her motivations and point of view. Sympathy is feeling pity for another person. Health care workers need empathy, not sympathy to effectively care for their patients.

Making a presentation to a group makes me really nervous. What can I do to make my presentations more effective?

Being prepared is the key to becoming a more comfortable and effective speaker. A few helpful strategies include being clear about the purpose of your presentation, knowing your audience, organizing your material so it is easy both for you to present and for the audience to follow, preparing good notes that are easy to read, speaking at a moderate rate, and looking at the audience while you speak.

It seems like gossip takes place at many workplaces. How can I avoid getting involved in gossip and complaint sessions?

Gossip can be damaging in the health care workplace, so it is a good idea to avoid it. If the gossip is mean-spirited and unfair, you can tell the person who starts the conversation that you believe it to be unfair. If it is something you feel uncomfortable discussing, you can say so in a non-accusing way, such as, “You know, I’m really not comfortable talking about this.” Another approach is to simply change the subject to something constructive.