Communication & Dealing with Difficult Scenarios
Communication levels can be divided into three categories:
1. Facts, e.g., "I have been diagnosed with stage II prostate cancer." 2. Thoughts and beliefs, e.g., "I think I can beat it." 3. Feelings and emotions, e.g., "But I'm afraid I won't."
As listeners, we pay attention to the level we think is most important or the one we are most comfortable dealing with. It may not be the same level of communication that the speaker intends to convey, which can lead to misunderstanding and hurt feelings. It is important to remember that there is a difference between hearing the words and listening for the message. For instance, if a participant is telling you how he feels about the diagnosis and you don't acknowledge the feelings, they may feel as though he has not been heard. The following section can help you further develop your communication skills. Don't worry if it doesn't make sense right away. You might take bits and pieces and practice them in conversations you have with participants or anyone else!
18 | ZERO Prostate Cancer
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