Training: Communication

Good communication is an essential skill in clinical mentoring. A large focus of I-TECH's approach to clinical mentoring is to focus on improving the communication skills of mentors. This section offers guidelines for the various types of communications a mentor may us as they teach and guide. This section also explains the best ways to communicate ideas to an adult, based upon adult learning theory.

Teaching

  • Becoming an Effective Communicator
    • File Type:
    Word Document
    Pages:
    3

    A guide to assist trainers with the stages of presenting a message: planning the message (e.g., understand their audience, identify their training objectives, and decide on types of effective teaching tools); preparing the message (e.g., introductions, engaging the audience, developing approaches to establish themes, and ways to summarize and conclude the training); and delivering the message (e.g., effective speaking styles, how to transition to new topics, body language, and using interesting and engaging visual aids, like slides, overheads, and flip charts).

  • Improving Lectures
    • File Type:
    Word Document
    Pages:
    2

    Improving lectures is a guide to assist trainers with their training delivery, providing tips for making lectures lively and critically stimulating. Areas addressed include encouraging your audience to learn by understanding their cultures and concerns, personalizing your presentation as a way of connecting, pacing your presentations to avoid participant boredom, and using active learning techniques.

  • How to Facilitate Effectively
    • File Type:
    Word Document
    Pages:
    2

    A guide for mentors with group facilitation tips on how to build trust, ensure confidentiality, give respectful, helpful feedback, encourage participation, while highlighting the importance of maintaining a positive attitude throughout training. It also includes tips on modeling good communication skills.

  • What is a Good Teacher?
    • File Type:
    PowerPoint Presentation
    Slides:
    13

    This presentation explores the methods of effective teachers by asking participants to consider the excellent teachers in their own lives.  The presentation differentiates between teaching and training, and emphasizes both verbal and non-verbal communication.

  • Good Teachers and Trainers
    • File Type:
    Word Document
    Pages:
    6

    A slide set with notes showcasing the qualities of good teachers and trainers and the importance of good verbal and non-verbal communication in education.

  • Working with Participants
    • File Type:
    Word Document
    Pages:
    3

    This slide set is designed to encourage conversation about the different types of participants and how to involve these participants in your training. A good tool for training of trainers.

Meetings and Discussions

  • How to Run a Productive Meeting
    • File Type:
    PDF*
    Pages:
    2

    Meetings can be an important tool for clinical mentoring. However, many meetings are ineffective due to poor planning or leadership. This document outlines the important steps of planning and executing meetings.

  • Leading Discussions
    • File Type:
    PDF*
    Pages:
    2

    Group discussions are an effective tool for furthering a debate and increasing understanding of an issue. However, good discussions do not just happen. This document outlines the considerations and skills necessary for facilitating effective discussions.

Feedback

  • Giving and Receiving Feedback Presentation
    • File Type:
    PowerPoint Presentation
    Pages:
    10

    Giving and receiving feedback effectively is arguably the most important skill in clinical mentoring. In all stages of the clinical mentoring partnership the mentor will be both giving and receiving feedback. This PowerPoint presentation gives the essential characteristics and dos and don'ts of feedback.

  • Giving and Receiving Feedback Handout
    • File Type:
    PDF*
    Pages:
    2

    This useful handout outlines the basic skills of giving and receiving feedback. As one of the most important skills of clinical mentoring, this is an important handout to give to all mentors before they begin mentoring. Guidelines include location and timing, as well as how to word comments constructively.

[Top of Page]

*Software capable of displaying a PDF is required for viewing or printing this document. We have included a copy of Adobe Reader on this CD (in software folder) or you may download it from the Adobe website at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.