Certified Legal Nurse Consultants Know to Tell’em, Tell’em again and then Tell’em What You Told Them

Successful Certified Legal Nurse Consultants know that one of the tricks to effectively communicating with attorney-clients is to recognize the different forms of communication necessary to get a point across. One of the best methods I’ve found is this: explain the issue in plain English, then explain it again using an example and finally, explain how the example illustrates the point you just made twice.

I call this my “3-Ts” method of effective communication: “Tell’em, Tell’em again and Tell’em what you told them.” Repetition works. That’s why you hear an 800 number or “One day only, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday” repeated over and over again in a commercial. By repeating, they make sure the message is conveyed.

The first time you break down the complex issue into plain English and explain it to your attorney-client, he will mentally process the information on a theoretical basis (or think about his golf game). The second time you explain it, use a relevant example, which takes it from the theoretical world to the practical world, especially if it involves an example similar to the attorney-client’s case. Finally, the last time you tell him what you just told him, you explain not just the example, but the application. By this point, if you’ve done it correctly, you’ve effectively communicated a complex issue. If you’ve done it really well, the attorney may even be able to use your explanation in deposition or at trial.

The next time you’ve explained something to an attorney-client and been met by a blank look, quickly switch to Vickie’s 3-Ts to “Tell’em, Tell’em again and Tell’em what you told them.” You’ll see that look turn into a smile of enlightenment. Just don’t make me have to tell you again.

Success Is Inside!

P.S. Comment and share your favorite ways to communicate effectively with your attorney-clients.