{"id":11369,"date":"2023-02-27T03:05:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-27T11:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/?p=11369"},"modified":"2023-09-28T10:25:28","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T17:25:28","slug":"communication-is-the-cornerstone-of-giving-feedback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/communication-is-the-cornerstone-of-giving-feedback\/","title":{"rendered":"Communication is the Cornerstone of Giving Feedback"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Coaching Through Feedback<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>As you consider being intentional in your feedback to employees, it\u2019s important to start with your own communication skills. How you communicate feedback will impact whether employees listen or just brush it off as unimportant. Ask Fuel First answers a question to help get members started off right when giving feedback: <\/em><strong><em>how can I successfully communicate with employees so they will listen to my feedback?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Communication is the Cornerstone of Giving Feedback\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/802756657?h=6ecd1506b8&amp;dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When the topic of \u201ccommunication\u201d is brought up, public speaking often comes to mind, which may induce panic. \u201cGlossophobia, or fear of public speaking, is a widespread phobia and one believed to affect up to 75% of the population\u201d (Black, 2019). Although this article doesn\u2019t focus on public speaking, it\u2019s important to note that, in general, effective communication is a challenge for many.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Three Elements of Communication&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019re going to focus on three communication elements that can improve how people communicate in the workplace.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Words.<\/strong> This is obvious because we need words to communicate.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Voice quality<\/strong>. This refers to how you use your words: tone, pace and emphasis.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Physiology.<\/strong> This is a fancy word for your gestures and facial expressions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Albert Mehrabian, professor emeritus of psychology at UCLA in the early 1970s, is known for the Mehrabian Rule to describe communication where a speaker expresses feelings or attitudes toward a topic (Benzeno, 2020). Fifty-five percent of listeners will look to the speaker\u2019s physiology to be persuaded by the speaker. In other words, if the speaker\u2019s body language doesn\u2019t match what they say, the audience may not be convinced. Another 33% of the audience will be listening for the speaker\u2019s voice quality, and the last 7% will be focused on the speaker\u2019s words to be convinced of their message.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These statistics shed light on the importance of words, the quality of voices and body language to fully understand and embrace a speaker\u2019s message. Let\u2019s break down each element a bit further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Words That We Use&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When communicating with others, we must choose our words carefully as they align with our values. If we don\u2019t express ourselves well, we\u2019re at risk of being misunderstood, which can cause plenty of problems in the workplace. This is especially true for leaders who should understand that their words affect those they work with through informal and formal presentations\/discussions (Creswell, 2021).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that you don\u2019t have to be an expert at using words to communicate effectively. Sans an impressive vocabulary, your words don\u2019t need to be expertly scripted to capture your audience&#8217;s attention or effectively communicate your message&#8217;s intent. Your message is also delivered through your physiology and voice qualities. Ultimately, your words alone don\u2019t express intent. Your physiology conveys more of what you think or feel than what you say alone.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Voice Quality Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve probably heard the expression, \u201cIt\u2019s not what you say; it\u2019s how you say it.\u201d Voice qualities, including tone, word emphasis, speed and volume, drive your message. For example, think back to a time when tone played a role in a conversation. Maybe it was when a frustrated patient left the practice by saying, \u201cThank you,\u201d in a sarcastic tone. Contrast that with a patient who said the same thing but in a heartfelt tone. The words were the same, but the voice quality expressed each patient\u2019s emotion at the time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We use tone to convey different emotions, and when combined with other voice qualities, it gives others a glimpse into our emotions, whether we are happy, sad, confident, confused, etc. Everyone needs to consider their voice qualities when communicating with others, but this is especially important for leaders, who are often looked to for guidance and seen as a representative of the practice (whether that\u2019s an official role or not).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emphasis is critical to the message, but it isn\u2019t everything. Speed and volume can also affect how well others understand you. By speaking too quickly, listeners may feel you\u2019re in a hurry or nervous. You may lose your audience because they may become bored by talking too slowly. Volume also has a significant impact on our industry. Speaking too low might mean that people with hearing loss may not understand what you\u2019re saying, and talking too loudly might come across as offensive, aggressive or mocking. The point is to think carefully about the way you speak to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your Physiology is Speaking Volumes&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s no surprise that the key to success in both personal and professional relationships lies in your ability to communicate well. Nonverbal cues or \u201cbody language\u201d sometimes speak louder than the words used and are often considered one of the most overlooked elements of successful communication. Think back to a time when you gave a colleague \u201ca look,\u201d and they knew exactly what you were thinking. It wasn\u2019t mind reading; instead, you used your physiology to convey your message.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Physiology is using your body language, expressions and mannerisms to communicate non-verbally, which is often done instinctively rather than consciously. Whether or not you\u2019re aware, you\u2019re continuously giving and receiving non-verbal information when interacting with others. This may include gestures, posture and eye contact, which send a strong message when combined. These powerful messages can put people at ease, build trust and draw others towards you. But be careful, as they can also offend, confuse and undermine what you\u2019re trying to convey. And even when you\u2019re not talking, you\u2019re still communicating non-verbally.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s essential that you are intentional about your non-verbal communication. This means that you should believe in your message, so your body language will reinforce your message. For example, if you smile at the end of a conversation, but it isn\u2019t genuine, this may cause your listeners to question your intent. If you believe in what you said, that smile will comfort others and drive home your message (granted, your message was positive\u2014to match the smile).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t underestimate the power of effective communication. One misstep, such as using a tone that others perceive as hostile or not genuine, can cause a series of problems. Avoid these types of issues by being intentional about how you communicate with others. By monitoring and adjusting these three elements, you can become an effective communicator.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out the following Ask Fuel First articles to learn more about providing feedback to employees.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Black, R. (12 September 2019). Glossophobia (Fear of Public Speaking): Are You Glossophobic? <em>Psycom<\/em>. Accessed online at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psycom.net\/glossophobia-fear-of-public-speaking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.psycom.net\/glossophobia-fear-of-public-speaking<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Benzeno, G. (2020). The Myth of Non-Verbal Communications. <em>Center Stage<\/em>. Accessed online via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public-speaking.lu\/home\/the-myth-of-non-verbal-communications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.public-speaking.lu\/home\/the-myth-of-non-verbal-communications<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Creswell, M. (January 2021). Words Matter\u2014the Power of Leadership Communication. <em>Parbery<\/em>. Accessed online via https:\/\/parbery.com.au\/words-matter-the-power-of-leadership-communication\/&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Coaching Through Feedback As you consider being intentional in your feedback to employees, it\u2019s important to start with your own communication skills. How you communicate feedback will impact whether employees listen or just brush it off as unimportant. Ask Fuel First answers a question to help get members started off right when giving feedback: how&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11568,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","header_content":"","schema":"","fname":"","lname":"","credentials":"","position":"","tenure":"","department":"","location":"","apply_url":"","placeID":"","no_match":false,"name":"","company":"","review":"","address":"","city":"","state":"","zip":"","lat":"","lng":"","phone1":"","phone2":"","fax":"","mon1":"","mon2":"","tue1":"","tue2":"","wed1":"","wed2":"","thu1":"","thu2":"","fri1":"","fri2":"","sat1":"","sat2":"","sun1":"","sun2":"","hours-note":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[118,109],"tags":[],"article_type":[12,108],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11369"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11369"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11369\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12121,"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11369\/revisions\/12121"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11369"},{"taxonomy":"article_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fuelmedical.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_type?post=11369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}