Dear friend, many thanks for your question. You have asked a very practical and important question. Here you have not mentioned your academic qualifications and you have not mentioned what you are doing presently. From your question, it seems that you must be working as dietician.

The communication skills or interpersonal skills, or soft skills, or social skills are integral part of the personality of a person. Every one is borne with some communication skills but we have never bothered about it. We never think how we behave with other person or how to communicate. The communication skills are the skills which is required to communicated with other peoples in groups or as an individual.
The person having strong communication skills are considered to to be calm, cool, confident, optimistic and charismatic. Moreover, the persons having good communication skills are very successful in personal, professional and social life.

Since you would like to be a dietician in top institutions, here you have to interact with different people of all ages and gender, therefore your communication skills will definitely help you to become a successful dietician.

In general there are following communication skills;
1. Verbal communication skills; how to say and what to say it
2. Non verbal communication skills; what we communicate without words, and our body language is an example, sometimes we convey the answer by expression of eyes only
3. Listening skills; one has to be a good listener , since as a dietician you have to interact with people and to understand their opinions, therefore, you have to be a patient listener. You have to analyze the verbal and non verbal communicated words or your clients, colleagues, subordinates and seniors.

4. Negotiation; Working with others to find a mutually agreeably solution
5. Problem solving; working with others to identify, define and solve problems, try to be amicable in discussion and to find out a solution which every one appreciates.
6. Decision making; exploring and analyzing options to find a sound decision
7. Assertiveness; communicating our ideas, beliefs, opinions, needs and wants freely
8. Anger management; you have to be very calm and cool, never show up your anger. There is a time and place to show anger to manage the things. People who always show anger, loose respect and their words are meaningless.

Finally as dietician, you have to be role model for your clients, colleagues and subordinates. Your pleasing personality will add more to your profession.

With all my best wishes,

Good Luck

Hi There,

Imagine yourself with a Doctor, whom you go for consultation and he just does not answer any questions you put across to you, how would that be????

The answer to your question is related to the above theory.

A person who comes to a Dietitian, definitely comes with an issue, and needs to hear something from the other person especially a professional expertise giving him some hope.

Thus communication, both verbally and non-verbally, especially your body language is important.
The sign you portray through your body language conveys a lot to the client than your verbal.

Thus as a dietitian, apart from Communication, you need other qualities such as:

• Being Empathetic: Feeling what the client feels without showing emotions is important
• Analytic Ability: Understanding what the client says. Rather deriving information or hidden information by using your analytic or logical reasoning
• Decision making: Not because you have the upper hand, but because you are right in what you do. The client may come up with many solutions and issues, but the ultimate power is in your hands
• Assertiveness: Being assertive is necessary. Since the client may not be ready for many solutions you put across, you need to be assertive how a thing is beneficial and must be followed.

Hope I have touch based on your query.

Wish you good luck.........