Course Purpose
Every function and activity that takes place in an organization involves some form of direct or indirect communication. The success of these functions and activities directly depends on the ability of the people in the organization to communicate effectively.
This course focuses on the process of creating open communication that increases rapport and productivity. Most people in organizations take steps to work toward “being a better communicator.” In this course, students will identify concrete steps and processes that will truly help them improve their communications skills. Once these concepts are identified, they will then practice these skills during several role-play and group activities, which will add more depth and solidify their learning.
The course begins with an activity where participants work in groups to identify both effective and ineffective communication elements. They will also consider and discuss the impacts of both. It is during this activity that students gain a better understanding of the need to communicate effectively during every interaction. They then are introduced to a five-step process for creating open and effective communication. This process is the foundation for the course, as students will be working through each of the five steps for the rest of the session.
Students begin by working in small groups to identify barriers in the workplace that prevent the communication process from flowing smoothly. At the end of the session, students will revisit these barriers with solutions gained through the course content and learning. Next, they will each take a communication assessment that will help pinpoint both areas of strength and improvement in their personal communication skills. After taking a personal look at skills, students will then examine their communication as a group by working through a difficult challenge as a large group.
Effective communication is required for success in this challenge. Students gain experiential insight as to where the gaps in skills hurt their opportunity for success and where their strengths in communication as a group helped to move them forward. In the second half of the course, students explore concepts to improve their communication skills, and then immediately apply those concepts through small-group activities and role plays. Through these activities, students learn to identify the goal of a message, create assertive statements, ask for and receive feedback, and utilize strong questioning and listening skills. They will apply their newly acquired skills and concepts to an actual message they need to deliver. Writing effective e-mail messages and delivering messages upwards to leadership is included.
