Title

Communication Skills

Duration

1 day.

Aim

To enable staff to recognise and practice different styles of communication and decide on the most appropriate one for their needs and the needs of their audience.

Objectives

The session will look at improving communication skills in a business context. Participants will be asked to define 'communication' and audit their own communication skills. Individual and group work will cover verbal and non-verbal skills and short exercises will encourage practice of these skills. Participants will be encouraged to think about the needs of those with whom they communicate and also to explore solutions to their own individual communication concerns..

Evaluation

This is a highly participative session in which everyone will be encouraged to interact as much as possible. Participants will be asked to complete personal action plans identifying areas for development.

Course Content

• Introductions and establishing confidentiality
  
• Ice-breaker - involving individual introductions
  
• Defining communication - working in pairs
  
• What skills do you need to communicate? - group exercise
  
• Trouble-shooting - exploring areas of concern for the group/individuals
  
• Verbal communication
  
• Non-Verbal Communication
  
• Listening exercise
  
• Choosing appropriate communication
  
• Feedback exercise
  
• Trouble shooting - exploring solutions to earlier problems
  
• Tips for better communication
  
• Summary, review and finalising personal action plans

Training Methods

Tutor-lead sessions and completion of personal action plans. Individual and group work practising skills explored during the session.