#13: Communication: It's NOT a soft skill! Prof. Cindy Adams

Most vets would agree that excellent communication skills are one of the most important tools that we need to develop for a happy veterinary career, and it's a topic that we've always wanted to feature here, so we were thrilled when one of the leading minds in veterinary communication training agreed to join us on the Vet Vault. Cindy Adams is a Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences at the University of Calgary, where she teaches in the Clinical Communication and Professional Skills programs. She works to improve communication practices in veterinary medicine and education. Professor Adams has developed evidence-based communication curricula and methods for teaching, learning and evaluating communication skills across North America, UK, and Australia. Today her work forms the basis for communications skills training in many leading vet schools. Her co-authored book: 'Skills for Communicating in Veterinary Medicine,' was released in 2016 and has earned widespread recognition in veterinary medical practice and education around the globe. In this episode Cindy tells us why we really need to increase our efforts in improving our communication skills, how to rapidly gain client trust, and how to set yourself up for the perfect consult. I guarantee you that this is not just for new grads: it doesn’t matter where you are in your vet career - you are bound to learn something new here. We talk about agenda setting, listening, perceptual skills and how to have those difficult conversations about money, and Cindy answers a few burning listener questions about tricky communication situations. Make sure to check out the show notes for the resources that Cindy mentions in the episode. There’s some very useful information on talking about money, discussing medical errors and how to run internal training programs for better communication.