Asking questions to get results.

As I talk and listen to doctors around the country, their commitment and passion to help their patients shine through loud and clear. But sometimes the ways they communicate their passion of creating a healthy lifestyle for their patients really rubs patients the wrong way and actually cause patients to leave the practice.

Every doctor wants to build lifetime relationships with their patients. You want to help them in every aspect of their health. You have so much knowledge to share, why won’t they listen to you?

My belief is most doctors have never learned the art of asking the right questions, in the right way, at the right time. If you learn to communicate with your patients in this way, you create lifetime patients because they know; you know what the heck you’re talking about.

The right question is always about what that patient’s current problems are. If they come in that day with back pain, you don’t want to start by asking them question about their toxicity. Learn to boil the frog one degree at a time. Each question should build on the last one and you can lead them where you want to go.

The right way to ask any question is never ask a question that could cause a difference of opinion between you and your patient. For example, questions like “did you drink enough water today?” can really cause a problem. They can think “my three glasses is enough for me”. Then when you tell them differently there is a difference of opinion. But if you ask, “How much water did you drink today?” Then you have the opportunity to explain why three glasses isn’t enough and educate them without them wanting to defend their position. Everybody wins.

Finally asking questions at the right time makes a huge difference. Your job is to lead your patients into the healthy lifestyle of their dreams. But if you have a forty year old obese smoker who hasn’t touched a vegetable in years and your start by asking him questions about a vegan diet, you won’t get very far.

So learn to ask open ended questions that are important to their current situation and lead them down the path to Real Life Wellness.