Improving Your Communication Skills
is KEY
Whether advocating to legislators for better quality
of care or speaking one-on-one to a fellow patient about the importance of
adhering to a prescribed medical regimen, the cornerstone of every activist’s
activity is communication.
Regardless of the situation or circumstances, effective communication skills are
a necessary element of success and a vitally important part of your progress.
Listening to someone present information on a topic of interest and watching
their body language and other non-verbal cues requires a certain level of
communication skill in order to be properly processed. No matter how motivating
and inspiring the message, if communicated in a manner that is ambiguous or
confusing, the message will be lost on the listener.
As technology improves, so do the methods of communicating. Where once we relied
exclusively on hand-delivered letters and notes to convey written information,
we now also include facsimiles, emails, instant messaging, and text messaging.
And, where once we relied exclusively on face-to-face opportunities to deliver
information verbally, we now count telephones, cell phones, teleconferences,
video conferences, and webcasts among our methods to do so.
Therefore, with so many ways to communicate and so many opportunities for our
message to be heard, continually improving our communication skills is KEY!
This point is especially true when you stop to consider that as weKAN patient
activists, we not only educate other patients and members of our community, but
in some cases, we also advocate for changes that may mean the difference between
life and death for many.
For this reason, we urge you to work hard to improve your communication skills.
What are some ways that can allow you to do this?
• Listen to and observe those who communicate well and learn from them.
• Read books and articles on communication—many communication experts now have
websites that can be accessed for free.
• Take a class on communication.
• Join a local Toastmasters group.
A Word About Toastmasters
Toastmasters International is an internationally known and well-recognized
non-profit organization whose vision is to “. . .empower people to achieve their
full potential and realize their dreams. Through [Toastmaster] member clubs,
people through-out the world can improve their communication and leadership
skills, and find the courage to change.”
Their mission is to make “. . .effective oral communication a worldwide reality.
Through its member clubs, Toastmasters International helps men and women learn
the arts of speaking, listening, and thinking—vital skills that promote
self-actualization, enhance leadership potential, foster human understanding,
and con-tribute to the betterment of mankind.” (For more information, see
www.toastmasters.org.)
Work to improve your communication skills every day—the next message that you
communicate could be the one that can save lives!
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