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This section addresses external communication, which is used to form authentic and meaningful connections in both personal and professional contexts. Persons with high levels of external communication skills are generally able to develop satisfying interpersonal relationships, which empower all areas of their lives.
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External communication is grounded within the broad realm of social intelligence. In turn, social intelligence involves two major constructs, social awareness, the ability to perceive and adapt to the parameters of the prevailing social culture, and social skills, specific communication strategies that promote effective connections. These constructs are respectively explored in Chapters 7 and 8.
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Chapters 9 and 10 address external communication in the context of developing an empowering therapeutic alliance with the patients we are called to serve. This partnership can be greatly enhanced through an appreciation of generational differences (as discussed in Chapter 9) and the challenges of the of illness experience (which is explored in Chapter 10).