How can I be an effective communicator? With flexibility and teachability.

Would you agree… to be effective in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, an effective communicator needs to exhibit flexibility and teachability? But not the kind of flexibility pictured above.

The ability to perform backbends might be helpful, but the flexibility needed to be an effective nutrition communicator is critical. This flexibility demonstrates the ability to adapt to societal and technological changes and keep up with the latest…

• communication channels, 

• dietary recommendations, and

• scientific evidence food and nutrition communication is based on.

Additionally, a flexible nutrition communicator must be teachable, willing to learn new channels of communication, the most up-to-date evidence-based messaging, and the latest food and nutrition science. We cannot afford to be behind the times.

This post is the third in a series examining the qualities and skills needed to be an effective communicator. These are qualities and skills that can be learned and improved with practice. They are discussed in the first edition of Communicating Nutrition: The Authoritative Guide and as we approach a revision of this book, this series will help begin the process of revisiting and expanding on these fundamentals.

The first post introduced the series by asking the question: What qualities and skills are needed to be an effective communicator?

The second post discussed the importance of being genuinely courteous, gracious, and respectful.

This post looks at the importance of being flexible and teachable.

What is flexibility and how does it relate to being an effective communicator?

Flexibility is a willingness to change and the ability to adapt. Thinking about communication, consider the changes in channels of communication that have occurred over the past several decades. In the 45+ years I’ve been a nutrition professional, we have seen the advent of personal computers, the internet, digital channels of communication, cell phones, and more.

If our approach to communication remained limited to traditional newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and postal mail, we would greatly limit our ability to reach audiences in the way they prefer to receive messages. We must embrace these changes and utilize best practices with the channels our audiences use.

In addition to changes in channels, our messages have changed with the evolution of nutrition science. For example, we no longer advise new parents to withhold allergenic foods such as peanut butter during the first year of life but instead expose infants after six months of age to these foods to prevent allergies.

As the evidence changes, our messaging needs to change as well. We must embrace these changes to not only convey updated information but also communicate how science evolves as research findings bring new knowledge to light. Empower your audiences to be flexible as well.

What is teachability and how does it relate to being an effective communicator?

Teachability is the ability to learn and a desire for continual, lifelong learning. When we are teachable, we are open to changes in both how and what we learn.

Consider the changes in communication channels and nutrition science described above. Embracing these changes requires teachability. We must seek to learn…

• new ways to communicate,

• best practices in our use of new channels,

• the most current scientific evidence and nutrition knowledge, and

• how best to translate it to the audiences we serve.

For professionals trained in the 20th century, that means embracing social media, video, podcasts, and text messages. What will it mean for professionals trained in the 21st century? Only time will tell. Communication channels are everchanging.

Nutrition science is everchanging as well. As credentialled food and nutrition professionals, we are required to participate in ongoing continuing education. Make the most of these opportunities. Go above and beyond to stay up to date. Our work depends on it.

We must also empower our audiences to be teachable and to seek out credible sources of information. We can role model teachability and instill in audiences a thirst for accurate information that can be put into practice and make a difference in people’s lives. Become that source. Be in the know. Communicate current knowledge with excellence.

Flexibility and teachability make us more effective communicators. In next week’s post, we will discuss the qualities that demonstrate integrity and responsiblity.

"Be adaptable, flexible, and never stop learning. The rate of change will never stop and neither should you."  ~ Brian Regan

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