It’s not Magic – It’s the Power of Mindful Communication
October 28, 2024
By Kolo Wilkinson
Ever noticed how some people just seem to have a magnetic presence when they speak? It’s not magic – it’s mindful communication.
Mindful communication means tuning your verbal, nonverbal and written styles to better connect with others. It’s not just about talking, but about really making an impact. By being aware and intentional in how you communicate, you can ensure your audience is more open and responsive to what you have to say. It’s like having a magical superpower that makes people sit up and listen.
I remember a time when I was presenting a clinical concept to members of my team who are non-clinical. I am used to presenting to colleagues with a similar clinical background, so I dove excitedly into the scientific details, but this time I paid close attention to my colleagues’ reactions.
Then I stopped talking and the room was silent.
I realized I needed to provide clarified details and create space for them to be engaged and ask questions. By the end of the discussion, not only did they understand my clinical idea, but they were also enthusiastic about it. No magic – it was just mindful communication transforming what could have been a dry clinical presentation into a collaborative and successful discussion.
Key Aspects of Mindful Communication
Before I mastered the skills of mindfulness with my communication, there were times I wished I would have had the ability to disappear from a patient’s bedside during an awkward communication encounter with the patient or their family members. I had to learn the key aspects of mindful communication to know how to navigate through conversations by being more aware of the following key aspects:
Becoming Mindful: Being aware and present in your interactions. This means actively listening to others, paying attention to their words, tone and body language, and responding thoughtfully.
Conscious and Knowledgeable: Understanding the impact of your words and actions. This involves being aware of how your communication affects others and being knowledgeable about the subject matter to communicate effectively.
Intentional and Skillful: Communicating with purpose and clarity. This means being clear about your intentions and using your communication skills to convey your message effectively.
Team Utilization: Supporting, teaching, empowering and encouraging others. By leveraging the strengths of your team, you can foster a collaborative environment that promotes growth and success.
Benefits of Mindful Communication
The benefits of mindful communication are way better than pulling a rabbit out of a hat! Mindful communication has the magic to transform ordinary interactions into meaningful connections, helping you to influence, engage and build trust with your patients, caregivers and others!
This can lead to:
Enhanced Relationships: Mindful communication helps build trust and respect among team members, leading to stronger and more positive relationships.
Improved Collaboration: When team members feel heard and valued, they are more likely to collaborate effectively and contribute their best ideas.
Increased Productivity: Clear and intentional communication reduces misunderstandings and errors, leading to more efficient and productive work.
Mindful communication is a powerful tool that can transform the way we interact with others. By becoming more mindful, conscious, knowledgeable, intentional and skillful in our communication, we can create a positive and impactful environment. Utilizing our teams to support, teach, empower and encourage others not only enhances our relationships and productivity, but can ultimately save lives
Now wouldn’t it be magical if you could snap your finger and become a master of mindful communicator? Unfortunately, there are no magic tricks that can assist anyone with this skill set. Developing the skill of mindful communication does not happen overnight. It takes time and practice, even for those who may consider themselves to be excellent communicators. However, I have good news – being a skilled mindful communicator can be learned!
In our next mindful communication blog, we will delve deeper into practical strategies and exercises to help you cultivate and refine your mindful communication skills. Stay tuned! For more information or questions about this article, please contact Kolo or complete this form.
Kolo Wilkinson, RN, MSN, RN-BC, CCFP
Clinical Lead, National Sales
A Board-Certified Nurse in Medical/Surgical Nursing, Kolo has been in healthcare for over 15 years, with bachelor degrees in Respiratory Therapy and Nursing, and a master’s in Healthcare Leadership and Executive Practice. Her extensive nursing background includes dialysis, women’s surgery, mother/baby, NICU, medical/surgical nursing, telemetry and intensive/progressive care. Kolo has practiced in a variety of roles, including bedside patient care, nurse leadership, nurse mentor, professional development educator and, most recently, account manager for Tranquility® Incontinence Products. For more information or questions about this article, please contact Kolo or complete this form.
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