Communications bridges raise productivity, reduce stress

In the health care professions, the results of miscommunication and misunderstanding can be costly. Stress-related ailments and burnout frequently occur. Managers therefore should examine organizational communication strategies and offer ways of dealing with stress, if necessary. One stress-reduction measure that can be undertaken at little cost is bridge building. The bridge-building process involves making a connection or link between people by careful listening and attention to their interactions with another. Bridge building may include persons from all organizational levels; the only limits are participants' willingness to risk and their desire to improve the work environment. One strategy for bridge building is the story meeting. Because stories are a representative way of addressing complex issues, they can provide a framework for handling sensitive situations. Creating a story about a department or work team allows persons to deal with inner frustrations in a nonthreatening way and to consider creative outcomes to their shared problem.