Communication Styles

This has not been the best week to view my own communication styles.  We have had a snowstorm, ice storm and power outages, leaving me to only talk on the telephone with people and a doctor when my husband when to hospital to have a rod removed from his arm.

So through these limited interaction I tried to pay attention to whomever I was talking to, no multi-tasking!  This was hard to do at first but has become easier.  I can now pay attention to what they are saying to me.  One parent called to tell me they were not coming in because of the snow and ice but as I listen more I found out that the little girl is afraid the power is going to go out and they leave a light on until the parents go to bed and dad turns it back on in the morning before he leaves for work.  I remembered about this fear but thought the daughter was over it because nothing had been said for a long time.  In another conversation I was able to express my fear of my husband being late returning home from work, I had heard about several bad car crashed on his route home. my friend reassured me he was fine and to wait to call him until later that morning.

The limited face to face interaction I had was talking to surgical staff, a doctor and store clerks as my husband drove me around on a various errands.  With the store clerks after their usual greeting I would ask how their day was going and thank them for coming to work. Most seemed surprised at being thank even the surgical nurse was surprise, and said "it was my pleasure to help you today" as we loaded my husband into the car. There was one encounter that even being overly nice to the store clerk did not change he just did he job with greeting but no personality. With the staff at the hospital I asked a lot of question especially of the doctor. And then listen not trying to interrupt or act like I knew what was  going to happen based on past experience with the surgery my husband was having.

Three strategies I will use: when talking on the phone NO multi-tasking then the person has my true undivided attention just as though they were sitting with me in my house.  Be more reciprocal in conversation with staff in the store and thank them no matter what the weather is, the snowstorm is the start for me.  And finally just ask question then listen to the replies.