What is Palms Model of Communication?

Whether you're in healthcare, education, or customer-facing roles, clear communication is essential. And effective communication in these fields is more than just exchanging information; it’s about creating clarity, trust, and understanding. The PALMS model of communication offers a simple yet powerful framework to make every interaction more meaningful and professional. 

The PALMS model of communication is a communication framework that divides communication into five simple steps. It guides professionals to listen, interpret, and express themselves with purpose and confidence. It assists professionals in listening, interpreting, and communicating effectively. The PALMS model of communication is widely used in work and educational environments, such as assignments and case studies.

In this blog, we will explore what the PALMS model is, its background, its components, why it is effective, its limitations, how it can be applied, and tips for students on how to apply it in their assignments.

What is PALMS model of communication?

The PALMS communication model is a strategic framework focusing on five key components of communication. The primary goal is to improve how messages and dialogue are crafted and delivered to ensure clear and impactful communication. Communicating through any medium with the help of this model helps increase the effectiveness and resonance of your messages in multiple contexts like leadership, education and conflict resolution.

The PALMS model was originally a guide for professional communication and conflict management. However, it has been applied in the fields of healthcare, education, and business, as well as in academic writing.

The Five Components of the PALMS Model

The model consists of five components: Position, Attitude, Look & Listen, Make Space, and Stance. Below is a detailed explanation, along with examples in communication and conflict situations.

1. Position

In communication: Use communicative language, without forming any barriers. Your chosen words should reflect clarity and comfort for both parties.

In conflict: Do not back them into a corner; leave pathways open so they do not feel threatened or confined physically and/or emotionally.

2. Attitude

In communication, your tone, facial expressions, and overall manner should remain open and receptive to really listen and engage.

In conflict: Keep your calm and solution-focused attitude. A positive approach avoids an escalation of the situation or looping it back into non-productive arguments.

3. Look & Listen

In communication: Pay attention to what is said and how it is said. Observe the non-verbal, making sure of what the speaker says before you respond.

In conflict: Listen actively. Maintain natural eye contact—enough to show attentiveness, but not so intense that it increases tension.

4. Make Space

In communication, respect the personal space of others by keeping a comfortable distance and making them feel open and relaxed.

In conflict: Do not violate a person's personal space. Putting in the appropriate distance avoids irritation and promotes dialogue without aggression. 

5. Stance 

In communication: Your posture should signal openness and approachability. A relaxed, neutral stance encourages others to communicate freely. 

In conflict: Keep your shoulders down and your body relaxed. Maintain a safe personal space to avoid rapidly escalating emotions.

These are the five main components of the PALMS Communication Model, with applicability in both effective communication and conflict resolution.

Summary Table of PALMS Components:

Component	Key Focus	Example (Communication)	Example (Conflict)
Position	Clarity & openness	Use clear, simple words	Avoid cornering
Attitude	Tone & receptiveness	Calm & friendly	Solution-focused
Look & Listen	Active observation	Eye contact, gestures	Listen attentively
Make Space	Personal space & comfort	Keep a comfortable distance	Avoid tension
Stance	Posture & approachability	Relaxed stance	Shoulders down, safe distance

 

How the PALMS Model Supports Effective Communication in the Real World

The structured-thinking formula of palms enhances interpersonal skills and promotes conflict resolution across many fields.

For example, in healthcare: 

A nurse notices a patient is anxious before a procedure.

They use a clear position (simple language), a calm attitude, and an active look & listen to understand concerns. By making space and keeping an open stance, the nurse reassures the patient and reduces anxiety.

For example, in education:

A teacher addresses the tension between two students. A neutral position, supportive attitude, and attentive look & listen help uncover the issue. Making space between the two and a relaxed stance encourages honest dialogue, resolving the conflict constructively.

Importance of the PALMS Model in Effective Communication

The model lays out an essential framework for smooth communication, offering multiple advantages across fields. These include:

1. Building on structured thinking: This model allows the responses to be within a clear framework, so the individual takes time to organise his or her thoughts before responding. This reduces impulsive responses and gives way to more thoughtful and intentional communication.

2. Interpersonal Skills Improved: The PALMS Model reinforces interpersonal skills by emphasising active listening, appropriate language, and awareness of non-verbal cues, which form the basis of empathy, rapport-building, and emotional intelligence in both professional life and personal life.

3. Useful in Conflict Resolution and Patient Communication: This concentration on space, stance, and attitude helps to keep escalation from happening in heated moments. It enables different professionals, particularly in healthcare, education, and customer-facing roles, to remain in a calm, supportive communication mode under pressure. 

4. Encourages self-awareness and professionalism: This model encourages individuals to consider how their tone, posture, and behaviour impact others. It creates a much higher sense of self-awareness, which in turn can lead to more respect, ethics, and professionalism in the way people communicate.

Limitations of the Model

Like all models of communication, PALMS too has its weak links. These are:

1. May Feel Too Simple for Complex Cases: The PALMS Model can be readily understood and adhered to, which is very helpful when learning it for the first time, but may not allow for sufficient complexity in situations with multiple stakeholders, ethics, or professional expertise.

2. Needs Strong Self-Awareness to be Used Effectively: To function, this model relies on awareness of a communicator’s tone, posture, attitude, and language. Additionally, without self-awareness, using this model will not be an easy task.

3. Interpretation May Differ Among Persons: A broad element, such as "Make Space" or "Stance", can mean different things to different people. Application in an unplanned manner can be inconsistent because of a lack of proper guidance.

4. May Not Be Sufficient in High-Pressure Situations: In fast-paced situations, there can be minimal time available for people to follow each step in PALMS effectively, making them resort to using intuition while communicating.

Despite its limitations, the PALMS model is taught widely and used in various subjects. Want to learn how to apply the PALMS model of communication in your essays and assignments? Maybe Locus Assignments can help!

How Locus Assignments Can Help

Locus Assignments is a reliable online assignment help service that assists students with communication theory assignments in the healthcare, educational, and professional sectors. Our team of helpers in the UK assists students in applying frameworks such as PALMS, Gibbs, and Rolfe to their essays.

The services that we provide include editing, proofreading, writing assistance, and structured academic analysis to ensure that the assignments are well-explained and to the point.

Conclusion

The PALMS model of communication is a tool that assists individuals in understanding and communicating effectively. This model can be applied in healthcare, education, business, and the classroom or research environment.

For students, the application of PALMS in essay writing, assignments, and group discussions can make writing more professional and analytical.

Need help applying the PALMS model in your practice? Log in to Locus Assignments today for expert assistance!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does PALMS stand for in the model of communication?

PALMS is an acronym that means Position, Attitude, Look and Listen, Make Space and Stance. These five aspects inform the way an individual ought to talk, listen, act, and place oneself in the communication process to make it clear, respectful, and comprehensible.

2. What is the PALMS strategy in communication?

The PALMS strategy is a systematic method of enhancing communication and conflict management. It assists people to remain composed, be attentive, observe personal space, and have a positive and professional stance during communication, particularly in healthcare, education, and workplace environments.

3. What are the key components of the PALMS model?

The PALMS model has five major elements:

1. Position – open and clear language.

2. Attitude – calm and positive tone.

3. Look & Listen – active listening and non-verbal observation.

4. Make Space – personal space and comfort.

5. Stance – maintaining a casual and friendly position.

These elements combined contribute to effective communication and conflict resolution.

4. Where is the PALMS model of communication commonly used?

The PALMS model is widely applied in healthcare, education, customer service, counselling and workplace communication. It is particularly applicable in stressful, conflictual, or delicate conversations, including patient care, classroom management, team leadership, and professional meetings.

5. How can students use the PALMS model in assignments?

The PALMS model allows students to analyse communication situations, describe conflict-management techniques, and consider professional interactions in case studies and reflective essays. Connecting every PALMS element to actual examples, students will be able to demonstrate critical thinking and enhance the quality of their academic writing.

About Author

Dr Elea Wright is a senior academic communication consultant and higher education mentor with over 9 years of experience supporting students across UK universities. Her areas of expertise include communication theory, reflective practice models, healthcare communication, and structured academic writing for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She specialises in helping students apply theoretical frameworks such as PALMS, Gibbs, and Rolfe clearly and confidently in assignments, case studies, and dissertations.