36 No. 5, October-November 2000, pp. This is the conclusion of a three part series about coaching for better communication. There are times when a Leader can offer the encouragement of coaching support in addition to information.
Some people find communicating with doctors to be intimidating.
This is especially true if there is a difference of opinion or a desire to challenge the physician's advice in some way. In this situation, a Leader can be very helpful. Not only can she provide information to the mother, but she can provide some tools to make the experience less threatening and more successful. Once the Leader has imparted all the information available on a subject, she can further help a mother prepare by suggesting role-play. When you say that I need to have surgery next week, I feel apprehensive because I'm afraid that I'll have to give up breastfeeding, which is very important to me.