– MARK TWAIN

I began to think about how much our words can affect our relationships as I was auditing charts at work and sending out communication re: findings to my colleagues.

I sat there completing my audit and trying to make sure that I was being clear in my intentions. I tried to picture myself on the receiving end of needing to do the follow up and thought how well it would be received.

I know how hard staff work to do their best to get all the documentation complete but sometimes the actual physical time that they need to spend with their residents leaves less time to chart exactly what they provided.

Tonight as I am writing this I am thinking again about words and how they can change an event just by the way one interprets the meaning of what they are reading. You may send a quick email to your coworker, a resident’s family member, your family member or an outside vendor, physician, activity provider and the list goes on and on. This message may be a quick note that you thought communicated what you meant but the person receiving does not understand the message.

So what am I trying to express here tonight. Remember, we don’t know what stressors are going on in the receiver of our messages lives. Words can make one laugh or cry. Many of us are on automatic pilot when it comes to our vocabulary. Realize the gift of your vocabulary and choose your words carefully.

How can we use our words to help us enjoy what we are doing for our careers. The words you use should pull you to where you are striving to go or be instead of where you don’t want to be. For Example, if you continue to use the words, I hate my job, where I live, What I look like. If you say I prefer to live somewhere else, or I prefer to take a course, or I prefer if my hair was a different color. Each scenario changes the emotional state you are. The first one using the word hate is intense and negative and the latter is less negative.

When you are interacting with residents who are having a bad day or a family member who may be upset remember to listen and use your words wisely. You can diffuse a situation. If you are able to choose even one key word then you may be able change the way the person you are interacting with feels.

Just try out these words and see how they make you feel:

I am feeling angry to I am feeling dissatisfied

I am feeling devastated to I am feeling challenged

I am feeling furious to I am feeling annoyed

I am feeling overwhelmed to I am feeling overloaded

I feel ok to I feel passionate

Notice that the words that you attach to your experience become your experience

By simply choosing more positive words you can lesson the intensity of the interaction. This is referred to in the book: ” Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins as Transformational Vocabulary”

Give it a try to have a better day,

Instead of saying

I am feeling awake say I am feeling raring to go

I am feeling determined to I am feeling unstoppable

I am feeling fine to I am feeling awesome

To decrease intensity in interactions with others pay attention to words:

In Tony Robbins book Awaken the Giant within he labels them as “softeners vs. Intensifiers”

So when conveying something to a colleague instead of saying I am really worried about this, try I am a little bit concerned can you help me?

This may help you both work together instead of the first reaction of maybe evoking a response of needing to defend their work practice.

As a leader instead of saying I am trying to do my best say I am striving towards excellence.

Remember, Words are powerful and can can move any emotion.

“Without Knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men”

-CONFUCIUS

The information presented is informative and does not constitute direct legal or regulatory advice

September 2024\Skilled Nursing Support\maria.messina@skillednursingsupport.com

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