Better Communication Skills

Understanding and employing effective communication techniques at work can help you achieve your objectives, build strong relationships and improve outcomes for everyone. This practical course focuses on all of the critical elements of communication, and you will leave the course with a plan to develop your confidence and competence in a range of communication techniques.

You will also take away tips, techniques and templates to support you in implementing your communication skills back in the workplace.

This course is for anyone wishing to learn and apply higher-level communication techniques to increase effectiveness and improve relationships.

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Identify the factors that help and hinder workplace communication
• Use effective questioning techniques to acquire information and build relationships
• Pick up on hidden messages through nonverbal cues
• Actively listen for feelings and behaviours as well as meaning
• Recognise the different types of behaviour in yourself and others
• Apply an assertive response to some common workplace situations 
• Identify good and bad practice for useful and constructive feedback
• Plan effectively for feedback conversations using the BOFF model
• Explain barriers and filters in communication and how to overcome them
• Identify different communication styles in action and flex your style to influence others
• Reflect on how you want to be perceived by others and work on presenting a positive image
• Identify the sources of power in an organisation and use these to increase your influence
• Make a persuasive proposal using a five-stage structure
• Apply a range of positive behaviours to make your meetings and presentations more effective

• Identifying and overcoming potential barriers to communication
• Exploring how you are perceived by others and how to influence this perception
• Looking at the world from different perceptual positions
• Identify the key traits of your personal communication style and how best to communicate with opposing styles
• Giving constructive feedback to improve performance and behaviour
• Defining and living your personal brand
• Recognising assertive and non-assertive behaviours, and choosing an appropriate response
• Applying a range of assertiveness techniques to difficult situations
• How to deliver bad news and say ‘no‘ in a positive and sensitive way
• The purpose and usage of different types of question
• Higher-level questioning techniques to investigate and solve problems
• Listening to understand - active listening and reducing listening blocks
• Repeating, paraphrasing and reflecting and the importance of listener orientation
• The impact of nonverbal communication and the importance of congruence
• Push and pull influencing styles
• How to draw on sources of power to influence when you have no authority
• Use a five-stage structure for stating your case persuasively
• Tips on remaining calm and composed in difficult situations
• Being heard and getting your point across in meetings
• Projecting a more confident image through improved communication skills

You may also like:
Persuading and Influencing 
Assertiveness at Work