Published on: August 8, 2024
On 8th August 2024, the Department of Clinical Research at Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, organized a Communication Skills Orientation Program. The session was conducted by Dr. Seema Madhok and attended by 18 participants. The program aimed to enhance participants’ verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills, improve active listening, and develop empathy and conflict resolution abilities to boost both personal and professional effectiveness.
Dr. Madhok began the lecture by explaining the basic processes of communication, focusing on encoding and decoding messages. She described encoding as the process of converting thoughts into communicable messages, while decoding refers to interpreting these messages. The program outlined the essential steps of communication, including the sender, message, encoding, channel, receiver, decoding, and feedback. Emphasizing the importance of effective communication, Dr. Madhok highlighted how it builds trust and reduces misunderstandings in various relationships.
To illustrate the challenges of communication, the session addressed common causes of miscommunication such as language barriers, cultural differences, and external noise. Dr. Madhok conducted an engaging Chinese Whisper game during the session to demonstrate how messages can become distorted as they are passed along, stressing the critical need for clarity and accuracy in communication.
Participants gained awareness of the essential components and steps involved in effective communication. They also learned to recognize the importance of clear expression, active listening, and non-verbal cues in ensuring their messages are accurately understood. Strategies to overcome communication barriers were discussed, enabling attendees to better handle conflicts and foster teamwork in professional settings.
The session concluded with an emphasis on how strong communication skills are vital for success across all fields. Effective communication supports collaboration, resolves conflicts, and helps build lasting professional relationships. The program was well received, leaving participants motivated to apply these communication principles in their daily lives.
This orientation program was an important step towards equipping the university’s clinical research community with essential communication skills to enhance their personal and professional growth.
