Community Health Worker
Interpersonal and Relationship Building Skills
Welcome to the Community Health Worker Interpersonal and Relationship Building Skills Activity Submissions!
Interpersonal 2a
Reflect:
Think of a current client who is struggling with self-management. Identify one specific, concrete barrier they are facing right now.
Act:
Which tool- goal setting, action planning, or problem-solving- could you use to help them address that single barrier in your next conversation?
How would you adapt it for them?
Reminder: Maximum 255 Words
Interpersonal 3c
Ambivalence is when a person feels two ways about change at the same time.
In community health work, this often looks like a client who:
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Wants to make a change… but also
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Feels unsure, afraid, or resistant to that same change
For example:
A client may say they want to improve their health—
but feel overwhelmed about starting medication, changing diet, or attending appointments.
That’s ambivalence.
Think of a client or situation in your work where ambivalence is common.
1. Where does MI fit into your specific work setting?
2. What is one small change you can make this week to practice listening for more ambivalence?
Reminder: Maximum 255 Words
Interpersonal 4b
Map Your Own Terrain: A Moment for Reflection
Reflect:
1. In my current team, where do I feel the most psychological safety to speak up?
2. Where am I most reluctant?
3. Is my role clearly written down, or are there areas of ambiguity with other team members?
4. What is one concrete action I can take this week to better bridge the gap between the professional and community worlds?
Reminder: Maximum 255 Words.
Interpersonal 4c
Giving Feedback: From Vague Concern to Clear Action
The SBAR Framework
Think of a recent situation where the SBAR would have been helpful in relaying information. Write out how you would relay information using the SBAR Framework.
S-Situation: A concise statement of the immediate problem.
B-Background: Brief, relevant context.
A-Assessment: Your analysis of the situation.
R-Recommendation: A clear, actionable suggestion.
Interpersonal 6c
Now it’s time to put the playbook into action.
Take a moment to think about a real interaction—
a time when you made a cultural mistake…
or maybe a moment where you felt unsure how to respond.
1. What happened?
2. How did you respond in that moment?
Did you pause? Avoid it? Move past it quickly?
Now, looking back—
3. Which play might have been helpful?
Was it the Opening Play—leaning into not knowing?
The Build a Bridge approach?
The Stoplight Framework?
Or the Recovery Play?
And most importantly—
4. How might you respond to a similar situation now,
using the tools you’ve learned?
This isn’t about getting it “right.”
It’s about building awareness…
and expanding your ability to respond with intention.
Because growth doesn’t happen by avoiding these moments—
it happens by reflecting on them and choosing differently next time.