As a dentist, you are bombarded with a range of emotions from your patients and staff. Effectively coping with these stresses requires that you have a good level of emotional intelligence because emotions play an important role in the art of communication. According to Rachel Green, who is the director of The Emotional Intelligence Institute, what is said and how you say it can significantly impact the people with whom you are speaking.
Emotionally Intelligent Conversations Can Produce a Positive Emotional Response
You can carry on an emotionally intelligent conversation with your patients even while they sit in the dental chair; however, the art of communication requires that you ask the right questions and discuss topics that seem more personal. Discussing topics that seem …show more content…
One such question is, “You have been busy this summer, haven’t you?” A question such as this is wide open and has too many answers. This type of question can leave the patient scrambling for something to say and it is nearly impossible to answer during treatment; thus, increasing a patient’s anxiety level. Instead, ask a particular yes or no question, “Have you gone to the beach this summer?” Asking a yes or no question gives your patient the ability to voice, “uh-huh” for yes or “uh-uh” for no.
Other yes and no questions:
“Are you ready for the holidays?”
Wait for your patient to answer and then you can mention your position on the holidays. For example, you may say, “I have been procrastinating and still have a lot of shopping to do” or “I started early this year and I am just about done.”
“Did you get a chance to visit the fair this year?”
Again, wait for your patient to answer and then you can mention something about the fair. For example, if your patient missed the fair, you might say, “It’s a shame you didn’t get to go this year, I finally got there on closing day.”
Ask for
Emotionally Intelligent Conversations Can Produce a Positive Emotional Response
You can carry on an emotionally intelligent conversation with your patients even while they sit in the dental chair; however, the art of communication requires that you ask the right questions and discuss topics that seem more personal. Discussing topics that seem …show more content…
One such question is, “You have been busy this summer, haven’t you?” A question such as this is wide open and has too many answers. This type of question can leave the patient scrambling for something to say and it is nearly impossible to answer during treatment; thus, increasing a patient’s anxiety level. Instead, ask a particular yes or no question, “Have you gone to the beach this summer?” Asking a yes or no question gives your patient the ability to voice, “uh-huh” for yes or “uh-uh” for no.
Other yes and no questions:
“Are you ready for the holidays?”
Wait for your patient to answer and then you can mention your position on the holidays. For example, you may say, “I have been procrastinating and still have a lot of shopping to do” or “I started early this year and I am just about done.”
“Did you get a chance to visit the fair this year?”
Again, wait for your patient to answer and then you can mention something about the fair. For example, if your patient missed the fair, you might say, “It’s a shame you didn’t get to go this year, I finally got there on closing day.”
Ask for