Most people listen with the intent to respond, not to understand. Can you recall the last time you felt truly listened to? How did it make you feel?
Clear communication is essential for making a good first impression and providing quality service for clients, colleagues, supervisors, and management.
Benefits of being a skilled communicator:
- Strong client rapport
- Repeat clients and referrals
- Better working relationship with colleagues and improved career prospects
- Enhanced public image
When you’re a PT, you’ll be communicating with clients and colleagues in various mediums.
- Face-to-face: Used for client consultations, staff meetings, interviews, and general conversations with colleagues. Consists of a mix of verbal (via speech) and non-verbal (via body language) communication methods.
- Telephone: Used for client enquiries, making/confirming appointments, and seeking information.
- Email: Used for confirmation of appointments/session times, providing information, communicating instructions or news.
- Social media: Used for business advertising, blogs, vlogs, and image sharing.
- Written: Used for reports, client records, and referrals.
Types of communication
Communication can be verbal or non-verbal. Verbal communication is about language. It includes spoken and written communication. Non-verbal communication is what you convey without words. It includes your posture, facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice, and eye contact.
In the image, what the trainer is saying is verbal communication. Her eye contact with the client, her facial expression, movement, tone of voice, and relaxed body language is non-verbal communication.
