[Sharon]

Think of an example of when you adjusted your communication to meet another person’s style. Are you a thinker, feeler, doer or imaginer? Why do you believe that is your style? Share your example and thoughts on the discussion forum.

[Jaswinder]

I think that most of the time I am a thinker when it comes to communication methods . Most of the time I prefer to concentrate on facts, precise information and solving problem in a systematic manner. I like to consider my words carefully before speaking and provide logical explanations.
One example of my school time when I changed my communication method during a collaborative project. I felt like one of my group members was different from me. They were worried about everyone’s feelings and wanted that everyone’s opinions were heard. During the first meeting I focused on finishing the project and set the deadlines but soon I realized that they liked more encouraging and kind communication. So I changed my way I was communicating, I listened carefully what they wanted to share and respected their opinions.
I learned from the experience that various people communicate in different ways. If we change the way of communication that can improve understanding and teamwork.

[Jamie]

Jaswinder, I completely relate to this. It can be hard when you are a thinker to adjust to others as we tend to crave time to consider the facts and make sure we are doing things systematically to ensure good results. It can feel uncomfortable to have the stop and allow a feeler to get their time to gather all opinions, and take everyone into consideration. Its great that you were able to accommodate this differing communication style.

[Cheryl]

I feel that I am “doer” as a communication style. I don’t like loose ends and things looming that have not been addressed. If there are tasks to complete I don’t like leaving things! I have a particular co-worker whom I communicate with and he tends to be a “thinker” and is often not very conscientious of responding in a timely manner. Rather than getting frustrated with this individual, I have learned to adjust my communication with him. I always give a reasonable deadline to reply and make sure I contact him long before I actually need an answer so that he can “mull it over.” This has been effective in our communication.

[Shea]

Hello,
I enjoyed reading your post. I can relate to your communication style as a doer. I think it’s great that instead of getting frustrated, you adjusted how you communicate with your coworker by giving them more time to think things through. That shows good teamwork and understanding of different communication styles.

[Shea]

An example of when I adjusted my communication style was when working with a resident’s family member who was very emotional and worried about their loved one’s care. Normally I am more of a doer, meaning I like to focus on tasks and solving problems quickly. However, in this situation I realized the family member needed someone to listen and show empathy. I slowed down, listened to their concerns, and explained the care plan in a calm and supportive way. I believe I am mostly a doer because in nursing I like to stay organized, complete tasks efficiently, and make sure patient care is done properly. But this experience showed me that adjusting how I communicate is important to meet the needs of others.

[Marion Catherine]

Having been on the other side of the Nursing station desk, receiving a nurse’s empathy and understanding of what I, as a family member needed, goes a long way to trusting the care providers tending to my loved one. Thank you for considering the needs of the family and for adapting your communication style so that the audience needs are met.

[Margaret]

Shea,

Thanks for sharing your experience. Your experience highlights that while being task-oriented is valuable, effective nursing also requires us to step back and connect with people on a more personal level when needed. It’s a great example of balancing being a “doer” with being a “feeler” in practice.

[Marion Catherine]

While composing a story for my employer that solicits their support for a project, my approach to this communication went from meeting my needs to get the message out to meeting the needs of the audience. Not only am I addressing my immediate manager but the executive director, and hopefully address the Board of Governors!
Although very much an ideas person, very often I find myself mired in the planning and developing stages of an idea. But the truth be known I am motivated and inspired by being welcomed to contribute to my work community. Not being in a position to wield the sword of approval/disapproval on this idea, I have decided to pursue the dream and present my idea to management, anyway. Consequently, I cannot state that I am one kind of a communicator or another as circumstances dictate my responses. In this story, however, I identify primarily as a feeler type of communicator.

[Vanessa]

I’m a thinker, who loves data, the logic, and a structured problem solving process. I like to be prepared by providing other resources or references resources. I think things through and I thrive when procedures and processes are clearly identified. I will refer back to previous successful interventions or processes or previous projects that were effective and suggest that we follow the same plan that was previously successful. I like to take my time and explain the procedures so that others understand and can learn. I feel that I am good listener because I take the time to process the information, therefore I don’t quickly react to conversations/statements. I will provide references to family or residents to provide them with further clarity and reassurance.

[Cheryl]

I really appreciate the way you described being a thinker and using a structured approach to problem solving. Having someone on the team who looks at the data and reflects on what has worked in the past can help guide good decision-making. I also think taking the time to provide resources to family is important. It helps build trust and reassures them that they’re getting the best care. Being a good listener and by not injecting your thoughts too quickly is definitely a strong leadership quality as well.

[Emmaline]

I believe I have a doer communication style because I naturally focus on completing tasks efficiently and achieving good results. In a busy unit, my priority often becomes getting things done in a timely and organized manner. However, I’ve realized that there are moments when I need to adjust my approach. For example, when orienting new staff, I’ve learned that I need to slow down, create space for questions, and offer clarification when needed. I’m also becoming more aware of their individual communication styles so I can support them more effectively.

[Thea]

Hello Emmaline,
You demonstrate strong self-awareness, a key leadership skill. Being a doer can work well in a busy clinical setting where efficiency matters. It’s also good that you see the need to adjust your style with new staff. Taking time to answer questions and explain things helps create a supportive environment for learning. This shows you can be flexible in how you communicate, which is important when working with people who have different backgrounds or experiences. By balancing your focus on tasks with patience and support, you help build confidence and teamwork in your unit.

[Thea]

There was a time when I had to change how I communicated with a colleague during a difficult situation involving a resident. My coworker preferred a direct, task-focused approach, so I kept my explanations brief and stuck to what needed to be done immediately. Instead of giving a long explanation, I made sure to be clear about the steps we needed to take to keep the resident safe and comfortable.

My natural communication style is a “feeler” as I focus on relationships, teamwork, and understanding how others feel in different situations. People with this style value collaboration and connection, and they often consider others’ emotional needs when communicating. In nursing, this helps me build trust with residents and coworkers and makes sure everyone feels heard and supported. Still, I have learned that adapting my communication style to the situation and to whom I am working with can lead to better teamwork and more effective patient care.

[Angusami]

Hello thea,
Thanks for sharing your experience.
You delivered concise instruction based on the communication you had with co-worker, to fulfill resident’s needs. I agree with your statment that we must also consider emotional wellbeing of the client and the co-worker, which in return builds trust and felt supported.

[Susan]

I think that part of nursing it is so important to be able to adapt like you are talking about. I think our colleagues help us learn those skills as we go through our careers in different settings.

[Angusami]

The communication styles at workplace could be multi pronged, at times. One of the place I worked, the staff having difficulty finshing up assigned tasks, such as weighing residents for monthly audit. To accomplish this, I reminded them at the start of the shift, giving them piece of paper with the details. At the end of the day, they missed to do it and their reasoning was being so busy and they forgot this “one” task. Then I inclined to change how I effectively communicate for the same matter. I did printed the sheet, showed it to them and pasted on the Hoyer lift that they are using, to see how my approach going to make a difference. There was significant improvement seen/tasks completed. I believe I am a “Doer” type communicator, who likes action, achievement and progress.

[Jaswinder]

Thankyou for sharing your experience. I like that you realized you need to change your communication style to achieve better results. You found an effective way to ensure that the work was finished by placing the sheet in easily visible location. It indicates how small changes in method can have a significant impact. Additionally, your example shows that you are doer communicator who prioritize action and task completion. It gives an excellent example that effective communication can enhance teamwork and speed up task completion.

[Susan]

What a great job recognizing that the initial attempt didn’t work and what would be more effective!

[Alexis]

Hi there!
i enjoyed reading your post, i think it strongly showed how important is it not to get frustrated at someone for not completing task but to self reflect and see how you can adjust what you are asking to make it easier for others especially if it isn’t a continuous pattern from a certain employee. The text stated ” connections are build when we communicate with others in the way they wish to be communicated.” In this sense you adjusted your communication style and productivity was improved and a connection was formed between you and your employee because now you know they really did not intentionally neglect the task at hand.

[Tammy]

My communication style is a feeler as I focus on relationships, teamwork, and understanding how others feel in different situations. I value my connections with my team, residents, families and outside supports. I have a work partner that very much is an imaginer which at times I feel sometimes we are very different in the way we communicate to others and get our day to day tasks done.

[Sarah]

Hi Tammy,
I really appreciate and enjoy working with feeler communicators like you. As a doer communicator I often focus mostly on tasks and facts and I feel like feeler communicators really help to bring the focus to the people involved and how the facts and tasks impact them. This goes to show that having different people working together can really help to make a better process and/or outcome.

[Vanessa]

I value a feeler style. I like to feel heard and valued. I like that you value your connections with your team, I feel that it means that you are aware and care what other have to say.

[Sarena]

I think depending on the situation I transition from doer to thinker, for example during a fall. First response is doer communication with “get the lift, ill check the vitals, ill do the report once the resident is stable. Afterwards the thinker communication style with problem solving the situation, “was the callbell within reach, was there proper footwear on during ambulation, what can be done to prevent this from happening in the future”.

[Shannon]

I agree with you on the fall subject. When falls happen we are usually busy trying to do everything we can in the situation and being a doer. Then you need to do all the documentation and re communicate with staff in order to make sure it is correctly documented.Thinking it over and over. Being a thinker and a doer are great characteristics for falls.

[Susan]

I found this discussion a challenge, I consider myself mostly a doer and a thinker. I like to get things done in a timely manner, I feel that I use humour often to adapt communication styles, but I am able to switch to serious topics or events when necessary. I am not afraid to get into more emotional discussions with families and clients. I have a passion for excellent palliative care and end of life comfort, sometimes adapting my approach to those conversations to how the client or caregiver communicates makes those conversations easier. It is an honour to be involved in our client’s care and wanting to communicate with them about their hopes, dreams and fears is so important.

[Nathalia]

I found this discussion a challenge, I consider myself mostly a doer and a thinker. I like to get things done in a timely manner, I feel that I use humour often to adapt communication styles, but I am able to switch to serious topics or events when necessary. I am not afraid to get into more emotional discussions with families and clients. I have a passion for excellent palliative care and end of life comfort, sometimes adapting my approach to those conversations to how the client or caregiver communicates makes those conversations easier. It is an honour to be involved in our client’s care and wanting to communicate with them about their hopes, dreams and fears is so important.

Hi Susan, I can appreciate the sentiment of the discussion being a challenge as it can be hard to place yourself in a specific style of communication. However, I share your point in that every situation merits for a different style of communication in order to provide our patients and their families with the best care and support. Holistic care is most important and we offer this as you mentioned by communicating with clients, families and loved ones in order to effectively understand their concerns and expectations for care. By doing so we allow ourselves to become part of their care instead of simply completing a task, specially in a palliative setting. I agree that when we all feel heard we perform more effectively and are able to communicate our ideas and perform the tasks at hand.

[Sharon]

Shea,
Thankyou for sharing your experience. I like that you were able to switch communication style to show empathy.
In order to improve, doers can add a little empathy to their communication and remember that patient satisfaction relies on more than one task completion and compassionate interaction. I admired how you paused and listened to the patients family member , rather than just pushing to solve the problem.

[Sharon]

My communication style is a doer. I share the same sentiments as Cheryl; like to get things done and over with. I was working with a colleague who tends to be a “imaginer” and often does not do well in an emergency situation. I remember working with a him in trying to de-escalate a situation involving a client. I noticed he was becoming overwhelmed and seemed withdrawn from the events. I quickly realized that he needed space to think and brainstorm ideas that would be vital in helping this particular client and also help me navigate stressful environments. I remained calm offered solitude and give him time to process what was happening. I later returned to discuss the matter.

[Sarah]

My communication style is doer, I like to focus on getting things done and making the plans to do so, clear and concise. I recently started working more closely with a thinker. When communicating with this individual I have started to include more detail and background so they can understand the history and big picture of decisions that were previously made. This has been effective and allowed us to work well together.

[Katrina]

I think I lean towards more of a thinker because as a QI Nurse, I enjoy providing data, results, go back on past results to compare on where improvement is needed and as well as use QI tools to provide a structured problem solving process. Also I believe I am part doer because once I provide data and have a structured problem solving process, I will put it into to action and initiate a plan. I will make sure that the plan will get done in a timely manner as a team and get results. When projects are implemented, I become very focused orientated until the project is 100% complete or until we get the desired result.

[Brittany]

I believe that my communication style is a combination of both a thinker and a feeler. When working on tasks, I tend to be very direct and focused. I like to get straight to the point and do whatever is needed to complete the task efficiently. Clear, concise instructions are important to me, and I prefer having directions written down, such as in an email, so I can easily refer back to them when needed.
At the same time, I also identify strongly as a feeler, especially when beginning interactions. I make an effort to ask others how they are doing and engage in meaningful small talk to build or maintain a connection. I think this helps create a more comfortable and positive environment before shifting into a more task-focused approach. Overall, I believe my mix of thinker and feeler styles allows me to be both efficient and approachable, but still super friendly depending on what the situation requires.

[Freda]

Hi Brittany, I appreciate that you wrote to being a combination of the communicators. I wrote my reflection based on being a feeler but I also considered I could be any of or a combination of the 4 styles depending on the circumstance. I guess that is what speaks to our ability to adjust our communication style to meet another’s and connect. I do think it is important in our profession to be familiar with the different styles as we often have to adapt to the needs of others in our care or those we work with.

[Freda]

I believe my communication style as described in the reading is more the feeler. It speaks to the feeler seeing their organization as a community. The following is an experience I had where as a feeler my communication was not well received so I adapted my message. A new admission arrived on my floor with a tube feed, several wounds and a very engaged wife. For the first few days I found myself struggling to get the tube feed started on time, provide wound care in a timely manner, support the wife as she was adjusting to the circumstances of her husband’s condition and accomplish all of my other responsibilities. After a few days I approached the DOC in a nonproductive manner indicating things with this resident were not going well. On first approach I was negative, frustrated and feeling defeated. Being that my communication style is one of a feeler I was assuming the DOC would relate and provide support. When this didn’t happen, I found myself reflecting and decided then to present the DOC with a table of tasks and time required related to just this resident. Ultimately, I would have to adjust my communication style in a manner that could be better received by the DOC. I put the information on paper, assigned time for each task, wrote the challenges and through the process even came up with a few ideas to better support the resident and myself. The DOC’s communication style was one of a thinker as she expected background, logic and some problem solving. When I met with her to present what I had put together, and communicated the information clearly, she was very good to work with me on problem solving.

[Jamie]

I am primarily a Thinker. I have always been the one that appears to be silent in meetings but I am actually taking in all of the information being presented and processing it all internally.
I need to complete things methodically, take in the important facts, research what I didn’t understand, and once I’m confident with my findings I will present them or express my opinion on the matter.
I do not like to speak on things that I do not yet fully understand, I prefer to do my own research before bringing any ideas to a group.
That being said, there have been plenty of times where I have had to adjust this process.
I’ve had meetings at work where the leader was more of a Feeler. They were looking to gather everyone’s feelings on a change that was going to be put in place. We had only just been informed of this change in the meeting and we were not given time to process anything.
I understood that the meeting leader was more of a Feeler when it came to communication styles and I know that they needed me to express an opinion. I mustered up my thoughts and expressed an opinion then and there, and I had to be ok with the fact that maybe my opinion would change later when I had time to think about it and I would have to be ok with going back to this person and expressing that my thoughts had changed over time.

[Jovelisa]

I am mostly a doer. I a m not afraid to work. I go where I am needed. I believe that getting out of my comfort zone gives me more experience that nobody could take them away from me. Experience gives person wisdom/knowledge. I am also a bit of the other communication styles, depending on the situation. As a doer, I like to get things done and expect the other member of the team be the same. Though things does not really happen the way I want, sometimes. Then I consider, there might be a reason why the certain team member is not performing the job as expected it to be done. Then, my empathetic sense kicks in. I switch emphatically; I become a feeler. I would say “I understand, I have been there. Let’s do it together. I will show you how to do it.” Hearing a team member saying “Thank you” is rewarding.

[Chantelle]

I really like how you describe being a doer while also recognizing the importance of adapting to others. Your example show strong self awareness, especially when you shift from being focusing on tasks to more empathetic when a team member is struggling. I think that balance is what makes a great team member and a leader. It’s also great that you take initiative and step in to help others learn instead of just expecting results. Your approach shows both accountability and compassion, which are very important in teamwork.

[Chantelle]

As someone who is a doer, I prefer clear, direct communication and focus on tasks and outcomes. Which is why I believe I am a doer. I have worked with a colleague in the past, who is more of a feeler and valued more emotional support and connection. Instead of being task focused, I adjusted by taking more time to listen and move at their pace in terms of communication.

[Alexis]

A time that I have adjusted my communication style to meet another person’s style is quite often at work when communicating with doctors, especially on night shifts. I adjusted to a doers communication style. You need to be prepared with all the information they will need and be ready to move quickly. You must have your information summarized and ready to get to the bottom line. Their focus is on taking action and making progress in that moment.
I found it slightly difficult to decide my communication style. Before reading the text I assumed I was 100% a feeler. However, after, I felt stuck between a feeler and a thinker. I do love when things are organized and I am very structured at work. and I believe everything (especially in nursing) needs to follow a procedure and a process to keep things running smoothly. I like having as much detail as possible about my patients and when brining up my concerns I am very organized, do my research and have all the points to back up what I am concerned about and why.
However, when communicating with staff, patients and interdisciplinary teams I do have a very personalized approach even when sending emails. One of my favourite things about my career is getting to know my patients and connecting with them. I am constantly thinking of others not just at work but in my home life as well, I consider how my actions will effect those around me before I do them. As the text explains, I do see my work team as a community and my family because some days you do see them more than your actual family. I believe collaboration is key which is a trait of a feeler, I enjoy getting other people’s insights and opinions on things. I think it encourages learning and self reflection. At the end of the reading, it goes on to say that we develop our own personal style by bending communication styles together and I think that is so true and none of us match one of these styles 100%. However, if I had to choose, I would say I am more of a feeler as I use feeler traits in my day-to-day life.

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[Lisa]

I do agree that I possess all four communication styles however I think I am more of a feeler. I love to communicate with my residents and family members in order to build therapeutic relationships. I think feelers are important communicators because they help build trust within clients/family and can help be the peacekeeper.

I think we adjust our communication styles everyday depending who we are interacting with and the situation we are in. I work with an clinical RN who is very much a thinker she is very experienced and likes to share her knowledge. When working alongside her I lean in to my thinker communication style to best correlate with her to get whatever task we are doing done.

[Stephanie]

I believe my communication style to be a “doer”. I tend to act quickly because if the answer to a solution comes quick to me, I will go for it without thinking it through. Sometimes this pays off but sometimes a different path to get to a solution may make sense after the fact but in the moment, whatever comes to my mind first is often what I do without thinking.
I have had to adjust my communication style to accommodate student nurses that were working with me through their consolidation. I have had to step back and explain things to “thinkers” multiple different times before I was able to explain in a way that they were able to understand. I always enforce that if the first way I explain something doesn’t make sense for them to let me know so that I can change my method for something that works for them. At the time though not having an understanding of the different methods of communication, now I will have a better understanding in the future.

[Adeline]

I agree with you, Stephanie. Most often, we all aim to get things done because of the busyness of our careers. In every shift as nurses, we tend to work in a straightforward, task-focused way. However, there are certain situations where, if we pause and think more carefully about the task we want to perform, the outcome could be better.

[Erin]

I feel like I relate to this. I find sometimes I tell myself that I need to stop, take a moment and think about what my next move should be, how I should go about certain situations because in most cases I don’t have a plan until I get there. It’s not easy for everyone in a fast paced profession to slow down and think.

[Margaret]

In my nursing practice, I have learned that adjusting communication to match another person’s style is essential for effective care. One example was when I was caring for a resident who preferred clear, direct instructions and did not respond well to long explanations. I initially tried to explain things in detail, but I noticed she became overwhelmed and disengaged. I adjusted my approach by being more concise, giving step-by-step instructions, and allowing her time to respond. This change improved our interaction, and she became more cooperative and comfortable during care.

I would describe myself as a feeler. I tend to be empathetic and sensitive to other people’s emotions, which helps me build trust and rapport with residents. I naturally pay attention to how others are feeling and try to respond in a supportive and compassionate way. However, this experience also taught me that while empathy is important, it is equally necessary to adapt my communication style to meet the needs of others, especially when their preferences differ from mine.

Overall, this experience reinforced the importance of flexibility in communication. As a nurse, being able to recognize and adjust to different communication styles helps improve patient outcomes and strengthens therapeutic relationships.

[Samantha]

I do agree that it is so important to be adaptable to others. In healthcare we need to commonly take this approach. What works for one , will not for another. I think I personally can relate as I am very empathetic and like to ensure I take the time to explain fine details. I could also understand someone needing direct communication/facts in order to understand and not feel overwhelmed.

[Marilyn]

I feel like I am a little bit of everything, depending on the situation. I dont like the drama so give me all of the facts and lets get it done. I do like to reflect at the end of the day so perhaps, more of a thinker.

Alot of families need someone that feels more, to slow down and explain what is going on with their loved one and how they can help or just to feel included and heard.

Doctors like a doer – value action, achievement and progress – they are busy and dont have alot of time, what is the issue and how do we solve it.

I feel like rehab or OT workers are imaginers – they need to see the big picture of what does it look like when the client/patient goes home, what supports do they need and what does that look like.

At the end of the day we are all a team and work together for the best of the client/patient.

[Erin]

I believe my communication style is doer. I am constantly trying to help out my team and helping out where ever I am most needed. Any PSW that I regularly work with know that even if I am not working as their unit nurse or a fellow nurse on another unit needs something or any assistance they can call on me to come help out.

We have had new admissions who are high risk for falls but no falls interventions put in place. I work with a PSW who will without a doubt ask me for falls mats, clip or bed alarm to get through the first night depending on the residents needs because they know that I will put these in place even for a unit that I am not working.

[Stephanie]

Hi Erin, I love that your team knows that they can come to you for support when needed. I strive to be someone that my coworkers know that they can come to for help whenever. Even if I am busy myself I try to always make time to help my team, knowing that all the work will get done eventually.

[Adeline]

My communication style is based on understanding feelings and working as a team in collaboration with my colleagues to understand their ideas and reasoning. However, in some cases, it may be difficult to gather the ideas needed to perform a task on certain days due to how busy the shift is. In situations like this, I will need to reshape my communication style to be more action-oriented and straightforward in order to get things done.

[Shannon]

I believe my communication is all of them at different times adjusting to different people.
If I were to pick one tho I would lean more towards a feeler.
When I am in my current role, I would float around the whole building interacting with different staff. I listen to what help is needed, allow staff to vent frustrations and then give my stories of experience or knowledge. I find a lot of staff are doers and want nurses to have answers instantly. But they also want to be sympathized with and feel like their ideas or impact have meaning. In the same respect, I get a feel of how residents like to communicate. I went to introduce myself to a resident while in bed recently while in bed. He did not want an explanation of who I was or why I was there. He just wanted direct to the point and come in and do the task so he could sleep. So going forward I adjusted my communication to him in a direct way and he has opened up to me the more I interact with him. Meeting him where he was at allowed to open the communication.

[Terrinah]

Yes this is very thoughtful of you to meet the pt were their needs are. as nurses and leaders its very important for us to meet our pts and offer the best care.

[Leah]

My communication style varies on situations, and depending on the stress levels, thinking on the spot does not work so I am more of a doer and feeler. As I lead a team I want to make sure the job gets done safely and effectively. I also understand people work differently so I have to be aware of differences too.

[Aysha]

I believe, effective communication is about to build a connection with others/ among team members. It is a bilateral process. Until all the team members are informed, no job can be complete effectively or can’t be consistent in the positive effects.
I have changed my communication style several times among the team members to communicate effectively and to maintain consistence.
I am a thinker. I like to be well prepared for any task I have to do. I like to know in details, the pros and cons, what is expected and what would be the outcome as per the team performance. I like to have a outline before I initiate any task to see what resource I have/ team has, what would be needed to complete the task or to improve the work and how to communicate with the team to get the best possible result with effectiveness.
For example, in my nursing practice, after I change a care plan it is sufficient to make a progress note at the PCC. But I have noticed that team members has different adaptive style or has different communication style. I started doing huddles in the unit after changing a care plan for my client. I share the information among team members to inform the reason of the change and also if the team members have any different or more effective interventions to try. Which I found more effective than making a note as the team members are listening to me in person and sharing their thoughts helping a hands on information transmission among all the team members.

[Nathalia]

My communication style is doer/thinker.
I like to be hands on and involved with my team in order to accomplish or desired outcome, but I also understand that some situations require me to be more of a thinker in order to get the details and execute the plan based on the information provided by the team. Working as a nurse and a manager has allowed me to excel in my current role, but it has also helped me learn and adapt to the other communication styles in order to connect with my peers and employees and allow them to feel heard and appreciated.

I had an opportunity to adjust my communication style to feeler with an employee that I was training. We were going over the training and information, but the employee was more interested in becoming personal with the client and was missing important tasks that required to be completed in order to support the client. The employee felt that she wasn’t doing her job right and that she may not be right for this type of community work as she couldn’t find a way to focus on her task at hand while using her form of communication with the client. After meeting with the employee and shadowing for a shift I was able to recognize that the issue was not the quality of work or the type of tasks being assigned to the employee, but the time she was taking to make sure she became familiar with the client to ensure the client felt supported and heard. Once I had the opportunity to review the concerns and listen to the employee, I realized that the employee was not so much task oriented, but more of a feeler. The employee was appreciated by clients because she took the time to get to know them and became personable so that the clients would feel comfortable and safe. We discussed ways that the employee could perform the tasks while sustaining a conversation with the client and offer companionship while care was completed in order to satisfy the form of communication of the staff and the task at hand. I was able to change my communication style to understand the employee and be able to explain to her the concerns that were brought forward and the possible options we could use to action and resolve. In the end I realized that if I had used the communication styles I’m most comfortable with the employee may not be as responsive as she was when I changed my communication style and allowed myself to become personable with the employee as she opened up and felt heard. Over time I realized that I could be a more effective communicator by simply listening to my employees and figuring out the best way to approach them so I could have an effective result.

While i believe we fluctuate between all of the styles of communication, I am definitely a doer. I am clear, purposeful and focused on the outcome. I have been working to adjust my communication approach to fit my coworkers strengths and preferences. When caring for palliative patients I become a feeler for the families to provide comfort and emotional support.

[Terrinah]

My communication style is doer/thicker . I like to initiate and accomplish. during my nursing home days I would always be the one training new psw and rpn workers. I would always onboard and initiate the trining and boarding material. sometimes I would train people that having communication barrier and language barrier, I would always have to find different training styles that are effective. such as hands on or videos

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