1

Leisure Interview

Selvarani R Munusamy 300323843

Douglas College

THRT 1205 (001): Communication Skills Recreation/Health

Jennifer Afolder

20 March 2021
 2

Introduction

When I hear the term interview, I think of it as a set of questions conducted to search for

information from one person to another.

In this assignment, I was asked to interview three different people within a similar demographic

group on their personal leisure experience. All my interviewees are full time working adults

while pursuing their study. I was not given any list of questions; instead, I was asked to come up

with my own. This piece of retrospective prose is going to be an overview of what I think my

strengths and shortcomings were, all through my interview.

HI Rani,

A good start to your paper! Add strength to your thesis statement by including what your key

strengths and shortcomings were. Your introduction should 'introduce' and frame your paper.

The process of conducting your leisure interviews, should go in a subsequent paragraph.

Good bullet points regarding your communication skills, challenging and strength areas.
 3

Consider how you will organize this information into structured parapgraphs and add supporting

references from the text.

Include APA format with your headings, title and reference page.

Jennifer

1200-1500 words in APA format

The grading is based on the quality of the student’s reflective writing and their

written connection of communication theory/ concepts to practice – The interview

process is more important than how you feel you performed!

Please reflect on both your strengths and areas for improvement within the

conversational leisure interview experience

There are a number of ways to approach this assignment. For example:

1. Identify communication skills that you feel are relevant to your learning in the

leisure interviews and course work. Consider where you see these skills related to

your interviews. Compare your behavior with theory from text and course work/

lectures. The number of skills covered by each student may vary.

2. Consider areas of skill that are noticeably challenging for you, most effectively

applied, strengths and areas of growth and development that are evident in your

interview. Review the text for insight and describe how your practice is informed

by the theory.

The majority of the paper should be descriptions of your actual practice and ideas

related to the skills as described in the text. Do not summarize the text unless you are

connecting it to your experience or ideas and then keep it brief. Students must

accurately reference the text (using APA style) to demonstrate an appropriate

 4

understanding of the connection between your practice experience and theory.

• Write in the ‘first person’.

• Use of headings for each of the concepts is required.

• Your example/description of your practice where you describe your application of

the skills should be the focus of your writing. That description will illustrate your

understanding of the concept (theory) and how it applies to practice.

• Add a reference page

Communication Skills The first major communication skill I used was active listening. The

Physiotherapy Board ofAustralia (2014) outlines the foundation of effective communication

begins with listening tothe client. Active listening requires the practitioner to fully concentrate on

what is being said,through integrating skills such as paying attention, not holding judgement,

reflecting andclarifying information (Bodie et al., 2015). I implemented this skill when

discussing why andhow Smith alters his communication to personalise his service. I used the

skill of clarificationto further my engagement and to grasp a more accurate interpretation of

Smith’s reasonings(Developing Effective Communication Skills, 2007). Furthermore, I found

myself visualisingdifferent scenarios that Smith was describing in my head, such as a client

diagnosed withdepression. Through efficaciously not holding judgement and sharing my

own personalexperiences, I expressed empathy for the situation and it proved to strengthen the

relationshipby increasing transparency between us (Petrucci et al., 2016). Limitations to active

listeningwere identified in my anxious demeanour at the beginning of the interview. In order

 5

tobecome more attentive, I took a deep breath and relaxed my mind of disruptive thoughts.

Thisadjustment reduced my apprehension and helped me guide the interview more

constructively. The application of this skill had a positive effect, as the more I actively listened I

observedthe depth and clarity of Smith’s responses enhanced.The second communication skill I

used throughout the interview was nonverbal behaviours.Nonverbal behaviours such as

mirroring, facial expression, listening and eye contact play akey role in the practitioner-client

relationship as it enhances the degree of attention and focusgiven to the treatment session

(Boissy et al., 2016). When nonverbal behaviours are usedappropriately it promotes patient

enablement; a concept whereby the health outcome of eachpatient is largely influenced by how

the patient feels (Pawlikowska et al., 2012). Consideringthis, I applied this skill to show and

acquire responsiveness. Nonverbal behaviours I usedwere sustaining good eye contact, holding a

relatively symmetrical body posture that wasopen and at eye level, and lastly, I practiced

mirroring body language such as head nods whenJohn Smith* pseudonym for confidentiality in

agreeance. I found through combining nonverbal behaviours and exerting an

assertivecommunication style, I was able to gather smaller details. The biggest strength noticed

wasthat nonverbal behaviours aided in patient-centred communication (Mata et al., 2019).

Ibegan adapting my approach to suit the emotional needs of each question, whether it be amore

direct or sensitive question. More specifically, the amount of mirroring I would do toentice trust

and openness in the interview (Bodie et al., 2015). This was a strength for me as Iwas able to

gather the information I was looking for and create a safe place for Smith. Anexcessive amount

of nonverbal behaviours showed to be a limitation. I found myself givinglittle eye contact at the

beginning of the interview due to be being nervous, which blocked thenatural flow of the

conversation. Relaxing into the conversation using the right amount ofnonverbal behaviours
 6

stimulated a greater degree of emotional awareness and connection(Bodie et al., 2015).Reflection

The interview profoundly enhanced by professional awareness, knowledge and understandingof

good communication. The Johari Window is a tool used to illustrate the four quadrants

ofawareness, including the hidden-self, open-self, blind-self and unknown-self (Koca &

Erigüç,2019). For the remainder of this essay I will make connections from my interview

experienceto these quadrants. The hidden-self is the degree to which one shares their true self

with thepublic (Berland, 2017). This was the hardest quadrant for me to relate to as I found

myselfbeing very open and honest from the beginning with Smith, having no intention to

concealmy curiosities. An overall strength that became apparent to me was my ability to

converse in an assertivecommunication style. I began the interview using direct questions to

gather unrestrictedanswers, whist also remaining in control of the conversation. I then moved on

to indirectquestions to seek information around perception. Additionally, I noticed my general

interestin this career made my presence more fortified. I came prepared to remove the barrier

ofnoise by having the meeting in a small quiet room and switched my phone off to limit

alloutside distractions. Successively, I was able to express empathy in the safe space created as

Iforesaw myself being in similar situations as Smith one day. This relates to the open-self as

Iknew my intentions for the interview and proceeded to disclose willingly, therefore

allowingSmith to detect my attitudes, thoughts and desires for the interview. A limitation in my

communication style was my difficulty to separate my emotions from theprofession. At times I

found myself expressing very sad facial expressions in reaction to thesevere cases Smith was

describing and became conflicted on how to react optimistically forthat client. Smith then

acknowledged the perseverance I had exhibited when overcoming myprevious tennis injuries

and assured me that my determination would transpire into myprofession in the future. This
 7

admission correlates to the blind-self, as it is representative ofsomething I did not know about

myself yet known to someone else. Moving forward, Ireminded myself of my values in

becoming a compassionate and trustworthy Physiotherapist. However, post-interview I learnt I

am potentially a figure of courage and strength for myclients, and that I need to carry these

values also. This part of my interview relates to theunknown-self window, as it eluded an

unconscious dimension in my mind. From thisexperience I am now better equipped to be

empathetic yet also objective in my work.When discussing the views Smith had on

communication skills, I expected and was inagreeance with a lot of his choices. He emphasised

the worth patient-centred care has towardsa positive progression in rehabilitation. Outlining

how listening more or adjusting yourexpressions on that day can have a major impact on

building and maintaining rapport. Heexplained to me that someone going through a lot of pain

may need you to validate their painand emotions more than just working on them physically that

day. Good communication soonbecame the premise for good connection for me in terms of

understanding the true meaningbehind what communicating effectively meant and why health

professionals do it

ReferencesBerland, A. (2017). Using the Johari Window to explore patient and provider

perspectives. International Journal Of Health Governance, 22(1), 47-51.

https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhg-06-2016-0032Bodie, G., Vickery, A., Cannava, K., & Jones, S.

(2015). The Role of “Active Listening” in Informal Helping Conversations: Impact on

Perceptions of Listener Helpfulness, Sensitivity, and Supportiveness and Discloser Emotional

Improvement. Western Journal Of Communication, 79(2), 151-173.

https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2014.943429Boissy, A., Windover, A., Bokar, D., Karafa, M.,

Neuendorf, K., & Frankel, R. et al. (2016). Communication Skills Training for Physicians
 8

Improves Patient Satisfaction. Journal Of General Internal Medicine, 31(7), 755-761.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-016-3597-2 Developing Effective Communication Skills. (2007),

3(6), 314-317. https://doi.org/10.1200/jop.0766501Koca, G., & Erigüç, G. (2019). The effects of

communication skills levels of health professionals on the dimensions of the Johari Window

model. International Journal Of Healthcare Management, 1-13.

https://doi.org/10.1080/20479700.2019.1596393Mata, Á., Azevedo, K., Braga, L., Medeiros, G.,

Oliveira Segundo, V., & Bezerra, I. et al. (2019). Training programs in communication skills to

improve self-efficacy for healthpersonnel. Medicine, 98(33), e16697.

https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000016697Pawlikowska, T., Zhang, W., Griffiths, F., van

Dalen, J., & van der Vleuten, C. (2012). Verbaland non-verbal behavior of doctors and patients

in primary care consultations – How this relates to patient enablement. Patient Education And

Counseling, 86(1), 70-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2011.04.019Petrucci, C., La Cerra, C.,

Aloisio, F., Montanari, P., & Lancia, L. (2016). Empathy in health professional students: A

comparative cross-sectional study. Nurse Education Today, 41, 1-5.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2016.03.022

IPE Year 1 - Communication Skills Assessment Reflective Account of Patient Interview For the

purpose of conducting the patient interview, I visited my designated interview area, the

Pharmacy unit at Guy's Hospital, London Bridge, with my allocated partner, Ms. Kerry Layne,

on the 22nd, November, 2002. Purpose of the Interview The interview was to serve as an

opportunity for me and my partner to practice and observe the basic communication processes

that are involved in such interactions. Through subsequent reflection and feedback, we hoped to

identify the communication techniques that we were able to use effectively already, and, in
 9

addition, those that we may wish to develop further or change altogether in order to better the

interaction process. Note: Due to the setting of the exercise, we were mindful of the fact that,

although the focus of the interview was not intended to refer to a medical context, it was

probably inevitable that the subject of discussion during the interview would relate to one or

more aspects of medicine. The Interview Ms. Layne and I established prior to the interview that a

key component of establishing rapport was creating a favorable first impression, so I wore a

collared shirt with a tie for the purpose …….As the interview process began, I felt somewhat

apprehensive, due to the fact that I had never been involved in an interview of such a kind

before. I commenced the interview by asking Mrs. X about the specific nature of her visit. This

was an open question, and was intended to eradicate any notion that suggested an interrogative

mood about the questioning; it was also posed in such a way as to invite the patient to answer

with a response that would be more elaborative than one that would be elicited by a closed

question, therefore immediately increasing the extent of patient involvement in the development

of the conversation. It emerged that she, and most members of her immediate family, had a high

blood cholesterol level due to genetic influences, and were therefore prone to coronary heart

disease. On this particular occasion, she, and her mother, who was also present in the seating

area, was at Guy's Hospital for a routine examination, and had been referred to the pharmacology

unit to collect their medications. She even further elaborated by discussing, without prior urging,

the various prescriptions that she and her family had used throughout their lives, with surprising

detail……. Otherwise, my partner deemed my communication skills to be adequate. However,

on further reflection, I felt that, at times, I had exhibited disrespect to the patient by interrupting

and completing responses for her before she finished speaking (one of McKay's twelve blocks to

effective listening), because I had been able to anticipate her response ahead of time and, in
 10

addition, because I wished to introduce another topic to the conversation. At the end of the

interview, the patient expressed that she had enjoyed the conversation, and, although this may

simply appear to be gesture of courtesy, it is likely that she found our communication techniques

to be sufficiently satisfactory at the least. Relevance for Future Practice I considered this exercise

to be an invaluable learning experience and very relevant for future practice, as a good doctor

must be able to communicate effectively with his or her patients in order to establish a good

working relationship, and this is dependent on his or her ability to establish and maintain rapport,

to demonstrate empathy, and to close a consultation. In addition, despite the fact that the

interview was not a real doctor-patient consultation by any means, it nevertheless provided a

practical introduction to working in a clinical setting.

At the very beginning of the interview I noticed how much I was looking down to document

what Amy was saying. I was so focused on making sure I had documented everything Amy said

and I think I lost some meanings by not watching her body language. If I were to put myself in

Amy’s position I probably would have felt like I was just there to answer a bunch of assessment

questions and the therapist really did not care what I had to say. The empathy was there in my

voice, but not in my actions, so I presumably gave Amy some mixed signals. She would see me

writing things down throughout the entire time she was talking and then say; “okay” as I briefly

looked at her and quickly moved on to the next questions. One example was when Amy

mentioned …show more content…

 11

Now that I am more aware, I will be more cognizant of my voice and confidence level. It was

good to be prepared beforehand with a script outlining all the questions I wanted to ask, but I

think it became too much of a crutch and I was not comfortable just having a conversation with

Amy. It was not natural and felt more forced, almost like an exam that we had to get through. In

the future, I will not write out all the questions I want to ask, but instead just have an outline in

front of me with a list of the subjects we need to cover. That way I can pay more attention to the

client, as well as, ask more questions about what we were talking about at the time versus

suddenly changing to another topic. I would probably feel more confident if I memorized the

assessment topics so that I can check off the things mentioned in the normal flow of our

conversation. Towards the end of the session I can go back through my topic list to make sure we

covered everything and finish up with the goals and treatment plan. In order to keep my personal

values in check I used self-awareness when it came to the domestic violence aspec

One of the key points I took away from my interview with

n addition to this I am quite introverted and have never enjoyed talking about myself. As a result

of this I often struggle in interviews and fail to mention key facts that would improve my

employability in order to not appear boastful or too unreserved. To combat this, I did a number

of things. One of the first things I did was speak to other students who have previously had

interviews in this section. This was especially beneficial as not only could they reassure me that

it would be fine, they were also able to give me advice on the things to talk about. In addition to
 12

this I also ran into my previous employer not long before the interview. Although he worked in

the retail sector, not the financial sector he was able to tell me what he looks for at interviews

when hiring, and what he thought I should focus on with relation to my work history. The final,

and most effective thing I did before the interview was to prepare model answers.