Communication Skills

 

Introduction:

In today’s working environment, interpersonal and communication skills are just as important as technical abilities in achieving success. You need communication skills to support your technical expertise. You have the “hard side” of your job down pat. But how about the “soft side”? Your interpersonal and communication skills can spell the difference between success or failure at work.

Companies talk about needing better communication skills, but often don't know exactly what that means or they don't know how to go about making it happen. And without doubt, unless you are a company of one, at some point or another, communication will go awry through no one's fault or intention - it's just the way it happens. You might have pockets of 'Them and Us': Marketing vs Finance, IT vs Admin, HR Vs Operations, Consultants Vs Full Time Staff. You might have cross-functional or virtual teams whose ability to communicate efficiently is vital. If you have groups of people who simply have to communicate more effectively then giving them communication training may be just what you need.

Course Brief:

  • Differences between how you manage tasks as opposed to relationships
  • Demonstrate the difference between technical and nontechnical professionals.
  • Critical Elements of Communication and Interpersonal Skills
  • Recognize interpersonal skills that promote success with coworkers.
  • Discuss the barriers to the effective use of interpersonal skills.
  • Understand how to blend and communicate with different styles.
  • Listening and Responding to Others
  • Discuss the four levels of active listening.
  • Learn the powerful listening tool— empathy.
  • Asking Questions—the Gateway to Open Thinking
  • Learn a communication model for increased workplace productivity.
  • Apply seven methods for developing better interpersonal skills.
  • Assertiveness Theory and Interpersonal Skills
  • Discuss the four behaviors of assertiveness theory.
  • Explore an assertive communication model for giving effective feedback.
  • Identify differences between informing and directing messages.
  • Managing and Responding to Conflict
  • Discuss the characteristics of conflict.
  • Apply the five methods of managing conflict.

What You Will Learn:

  • Achieve results in your communications with others.
  • Build collaborative relationships that emphasize trust and respect.
  • Communicate effectively using simple, concise and direct language.
  • Enhance your active listening skills to anticipate and avoid common misunderstandings.
  • Foster cross-cultural understanding in your workplace.
  • Eliminate the roadblocks that undermine your ability to communicate effectively

Programme Materials

  • Programme slides.
  • Research work on effective management in the 2000’s.
  • Learning log.
  • Handouts.
  • Graded, experiential simulations throughout the programme, to provide realistic opportunities to learn, be coached, demonstrate and assess competence.