Abhishek Agarwal asked:
Most people are alarmed when they hear about communication skills for pharmacists. There is little cause for this alarm, after all everybody needs effective communication to live a successful life. However, thou we all need to communicate to help us with our work, we all do need different skill sets of communication to do well in our area of work. A pharmacist would require a different kind of communication skill than say a marketing specialist.
a. Verbal Communication: This is by far the most important communication skill that a pharmacist should possess. Whether written or spoken out, words do come under this category. A pharmacist needs to be able to read without error prescriptions that are handed to them. Also, spoken communication, although minimum at most times, is critical during your visit to the pharmacy. Pharmacists should be able to offer you alternative brands of the same drug, so a little medical knowledge is also the call of the hour.
Moreover, some people trust their pharmacists to the degree that they will take anything that they suggest to them. Spoken communication with a pharmacist is of little words, but filled with information at the same time. This is how verbal communication between a pharmacist and a salesman differs. In sales you need to worry about manners, language and politeness, but a pharmacist need worry only about getting the right information and giving the correct drug.
b. Non Verbal Communication: As stated above, words are by far the most important form of communication for a pharmacist. However, non verbal forms of communication do come into play as well. For example, a pharmacist works in the health industry.
Now, no one likes to see a dirty drug store or worse still, shabby personnel behind the counter. So, make sure you are neatly and cleanly dressed if you work behind the counter at a drug store. First impression is almost always the difference between a returning customer and one who doesn’t. So, a pharmacist needs to make sure he looks pleasing, makes helpful gestures to his customers, and above all, make a general impression as a responsible person who can be trusted.
To summarize the above statements:
1. The pharmacist needs to be able to understand prescriptions extremely accurately.
2. He needs to be able to give sound advice on the medical products on the market.
3. He should appear as a trustworthy person.
4. He should be able to attract customers by displaying a clean and healthy personality.
These reasons show us how communication skills are important for pharmacists as well! After all, communication is a vital part of any successful business and pharmacy is no exception to the rule.