Communication skills (1 - 2 days)

In-house training

►Overview ►Who will benefit ►Objectives ►Content

Overview:

The 21st century is characterised by information overload. Individuals need to be able to structure and deliver effective communications. This course gets to the essence of what it takes to be an effective communicator, both in writing, on the phone and in person.

Effective communications skills
Pyramid thinking
Top down thinking
Business writing
Writing skills
report writing
Verbal communications
Written communications
Report writing

Who will benefit:
All employees who wish to improve their written and verbal communications skills. The course is designed to support and further develop individual, irrespective of their current abilities

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

	Be clear about the aims of their communication and the needs of their audience.
	Structure their communications – ensuring their audiences read or listens to their communications.
	Chose the most effective medium of communication in different situations.
	Write effective e-mails, reports and presentations in line with in-house communication guidelines.
	Deliver their verbal messages effectively – in person or over the telephone.

Content:
(We customise and structure the content to your organisation's specific needs)

Defining effective communications.
What are the barriers to good communications?
5-step model for achieving effective communications.
The quest for communications mastery.
What am I trying to communicate?
What is the audience interested in?
What do they want?
How will my audience receive my message?
What is the best mix of communications?
Using brainstorming and mind mapping to identify the content of your message.
Using a “pyramid” approach to structuring your message.
3 types of logic for structuring a communication.
Anticipating your audience’s questions.
Developing a level-by-level approach to giving details.
Using a structuring planning sheet before you start writing.
Following in-house guidelines on report formats.
An effective approach to structuring introductions.
How to get the reader’s or listener’s attention.
Choosing the appropriate level of formality.
Guidelines on sentence length, accuracy and brevity.
Guidelines on the use of language and grammar.
Active vs. passive writing.
Using MS word to check “Fog index” and other readability statistics.
Formatting guidelines
Checking your physiology before you speak.
Exploring the differences - face to face vs. using the telephone.
Thinking about rapport.
Using “sensory rich” language.
Reading presenting body language in the audience.
Listening to questions and challenges.
Responding to questions.
Summarising.
Personal action planning.

Top of page

"Do your communications inspire people to read them, or to listen to you; and beyond that to take action?"

More Information: If you want to know more about this course or its suitability for you or a colleague, call us on 020 8374 3985 and speak informally to one of our course leaders, or email:
info@shiftingminds.com

Training Style: Interactive, enjoyable and thought provoking. The workshop uses inputs from the course leader, group and individual exercises, case studies, psychometrics and discussions. Participants also bring and critically review existing examples their own writing.