What We're Reading

Deborah Watring-Ellis, Head of Product Innovation at MHI, shares her pick this week as our 5-part “What We’re Reading” series continues!? ?

“This week I discovered “Listen: How to Find the Words for Tender Conversations”. It is a recently released book by Kathryn Mannix who is a retired palliative care physician. I first found out about the book in a CBC podcast.?

In the book, Kathryn shares her personal journey through helping literally thousands of people through end of life. She is now generalizing what she learned for all of us to learn how to have difficult conversations in a compassionate way.?

I’m not finished reading the book yet and I can already say that it is life changing for me. For the last few years, I’ve been actively working on learning techniques for having compassionate conversations. I’ve been working on developing my ability to show empathy, and I’ve struggled with the language. I am a deeply caring person and I know that I am not always perceived that way.?

Kathryn Mannix tells many real and personal stories to illustrate lessons she has learned over many years. The specific recounting of conversations has helped me to grasp what I need to do. I’ve spent my career teaching others and now I’m loving learning from a master. I recommend at least listening to the podcast to see if this is something that would resonate with you as well.”?