Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Series 7 - Talk Smart
Series 7 - Talk Smart
Series 7 - Talk Smart
Series 7
Talk Smart
Provide Information
1
Talk Smart
The model is particularly useful in illustrating the importance of factors other than words alone
when trying to convey meaning (as the speaker) or interpret meaning (as the listener). It is also useful in assessing
the impact of email, telephone or physical meeting up to discuss in the case of communicating vital issues or those
situations which are emotionally charged.
“Attitude at XXX is truly very “Your appointment times are the most
undesirable. The waiting time is unreliable in the hospital I have ever
unreasonable. The staff are chatting visited. SGH, has improved in their
with one another while I waited in waiting time as they are more
pain for just a bed to lie on. I accurate. In Tan Tock Seng, I noticed
checked with them why the long wait, that the patient queue moves faster
the answer they gave : "Because this during lunch time. Wonder why. They
is a government hospital." What sort were patients who were slotted in
of answer is this. I'm planning to before us even though we came earlier
complain to SPH and this will be & your queue number did not serve
printed in the newspaper.” any purpose at all.” It’s high time that
TTSH looks into it.”
“Today is the third time I came to the pharmacy to check on the above
product to buy. I learnt that the promoter was on leave & have no one to
attend to me. If this is the case do not promote items like these - display
empty boxes! One promoter (a tall woman in black) said I will check for you
but went into the room & did not come out - idiot of her.”
How Can We Be Smarter? (2)
“We had a very unpleasant experience here in your XXX, my mum was having a serious
cough and we were left seated waiting for 2 hrs aimlessly. We tried to make enquiry to your
staff three times and no explanation was given. It was a non-busy day where there was only
one patient at the waiting area. It would be appreciative if the hospital could review the
waiting time and provide means of managing long waiting period. In other hospitals, there is
a system with phone SMS facility to inform patient if they are next in the queue. I am really
losing patience to be kept waiting without updates”.
S3 Notes
Notes:
• You may pin the case studies up on your notice board.
• Look at the case studies and identify what went wrong.
• Look specifically at what can be done to improve such situations. Situations arising out of the case studies
include:
a) Information managing wait times
b) Departmental/product information when relevant staff is not around
c) How to communicate perceived mistakes (say sorry)
d) Providing updates
e) Answering an irate or flustered customer
• Generate some ideas. You’ll be surprised what you can come up with. Ideas may fall into the following
categories:
a) Process flow
b) POPs (point-of-purchase) communication such as posters, notices etc. that you may wish to put up at the
counter or patient areas
c) Choice of words or scripts in emotionally charged situations
Talk Smart Follow-Up Activities
(Energizer Games)
Words Alone
Purpose: To demonstrate how important it is to engage all our faculties when communicating.
Materials Needed: Small pieces of paper with one of the following words on each: Sickness, Care, Happiness, Clinic ,
Health etc.
Procedure: Ask 4 staff to each pick a word and describe what is written to the group. The word on the paper itself may
not be used. Tell them to concentrate on the careful choice of words, avoiding non-verbal signals as much as possible.
Use descriptive words relating to all five senses (smell, touch, etc...)
Questions: 1. How efficient were words alone in expressing ideas?
2. How did you feel ? (talker and listener)
3. What does this remind us to do in our own communication?