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Nonverbal Communication | From facial expressions to tonal authority

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Jan 13, 2025

Bradley Block, a private practice otolaryngologist and creator of the Physician’s Guide to Doctoring Podcast, discusses the nuances of nonverbal communication in healthcare. He explains how facial expressions, pauses, and eye contact can build trust with patients. The conversation touches on enhancing likability through humor and genuine interest, while also addressing the impact of vocal authority on patient interactions. Block shares practical tips for navigating patient anxiety and emphasizing the importance of validating unspoken concerns.

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ADVICE

Interest & Authority Framework

Convey interest and authority to build patient trust.
Show genuine care and demonstrate expertise through nonverbal cues.

ADVICE

Minimum Effective Dose of Facial Expression

Use eyebrow movements to convey interest and engagement.
Furrow your brow when thinking and raise them when listening or surprised.

ANECDOTE

Performative Medicine

Rob Orman shares an anecdote about a friend's performative line in emergency medicine.
The line, "I'm so glad you came in for this," improved patient experience despite initial cynicism.

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Mastering nonverbal communication can be an elusive task, but the fact remains: what’s unsaid leaves a significant footprint in any interaction. Nowhere is this more palpable than in the medical exam room, where trust and connection between physicians and patients often hinge on subtle, nonverbal cues.

So, how can one build trust through facial expressions and tone of voice alone?

In this episode, we break down how to silently establish rapport, effective use of pauses, the curious role of your eyebrows, impact of end-of-sentence inflection, how to convey uncertainty with confidence, and why learning a patient’s eye color can pay dividends.

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Guest bio: Bradley Block, MD, is a private practice otolaryngologist on Long Island, New York, where he lives with his wife and three young sons. He is a partner at ENT and Allergy Associates and creator of the Physician’s Guide to Doctoring Podcast. He realized that rapport was the key to gaining trust, seeing patients efficiently, enjoying his practice, and building his reputation. He tried to find a podcast that would help him improve at doctor-patient communication, but there was none, so he created Physician’s Guide to Doctoring! The topics quickly expanded to “everything we should have been learning while we were memorizing Kreb’s Cycle.”

We Discuss:

The "Interest and Authority" Framework for Nonverbal Communication
Facial Expressions: Conveying Interest
Humor and Likability in Patient Interaction
Making Eye Contact and Noticing Eye Color
Attitude and Authority in Patient Care
Effective Communication Techniques
Addressing Patient Concerns and Fears

Mentioned in this episode:

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