Comms Lab: The Humble Signpost
Comms Lab: Episode 14
6 Ways the Humble Signpost Will Enhance Your Communication
Many people dismiss the Signpost as a communication skill.
Because it’s so simple, it’s hard to believe how valuable it can be.
The reality is that in the context of difficult conversations, signposts are indispensable.
They enable us to keep even the toughest conversations on track, while simultaneously building trust throughout the interaction.
Whether or not you’re accustomed to using signposts, I hope this video opens your eyes to the huge power of this simple skill, and the many different situations where it can be useful.
6 Simple Rules
| 1 | Set the agenda |
| 2 | The standard Signpost: the microagenda |
| 3 | Asking Permission: Standard signpost + empowerment |
| 4 | The Parking Lot: the Pivot |
| 5 | The Warning Shot |
| 6 | The skilled Interruption |
0:00 – Enter the Signpost
0:44 – 1. Setting the Agenda
1:33 – 2. The Standard Signpost
2:04 – 3. Asking Permission
2:43 – 4. The Parking Lot
3:29 – 5. The Warning Shot
4:28 – 6. The Skilled Interruption
6:09 – 7. Bonus: I’m Going to Be Rude Now
7:09 – Don’t Be Fooled!
Further Links
- October TW, Dizon ZB, Arnold RM, Rosenberg AR. Characteristics of Physician Empathetic Statements During Pediatric Intensive Care Conferences With Family Members: A Qualitative Study. JAMA Netw Open. 2018 Jul 6;1(3):e180351.
- Richards H. Respond to Emotion by Naming It. LITFL
- Comms Lab with Hayden Richards on YouTube
- Sunday Synapse Newsletter
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Comms Lab
A path to highly effective communication skills
Hayden is an emergency physician at University Hospital Geelong and a senior lecturer at Deakin University, Geelong. He is somewhat obsessed with the science and art of effective communication, and in particular: difficult conversations. He believes that we can all get better at having difficult conversations, and that the process of learning to do so can be seriously fun.
Hayden is also an avid but terrible surfer, ad hoc gardener, and dad to two awesome kids. | LinkedIn |