Communication Skills Course

On completion of this online Communication Skills training you will know;

• Why communication is so important
• The meaning of verbal, nonverbal, and paraverbal
• Importance of communication
• How to send clear messages
• How to full listen and understand messages

Everyone who must communicate with colleagues, customers, various stakeholders or the public will benefit from this short online communication skills course.

Verbal communication refers to the words we choose. 

Our choice of words has tremendous power in the type of atmosphere that is created in the workplace. 

Words that are critical, blaming, judgmental or accusatory tend to create a resistant and defensive mindset that is not conducive to constructive problem solving. On the other hand, we can choose words that normalise the issues and problems and reduce resistance. Phrases such as, ‘it is not uncommon for… ‘ or ‘for some people in similar situations’ are examples of this.

Sending effective messages also requires that we state our point of view as briefly and succinctly as possible.

Listening to a rambling, disorganised speaker is tedious and discouraging – why continue to listen when there is no interchange? Lengthy dissertations and circuitous explanations are confusing to the listener and the message loses its relevance, and impact.

Nonverbal communication refers to body language.  Such as our posture, gestures, facial expression and spatial distance.  Through our body language we are always communicating, whether we intent to or not!

Nonverbal messages are the primary way that we communicate emotions, for example;

1. Facial Expressions:  The face is perhaps the most important conveyor of emotional information. A face can light up with enthusiasm, energy, and approval, express confusion or boredom, and scowl with displeasure.
2. Eyes:  The eyes are particularly expressive in telegraphing joy, sadness, anger, or confusion.
3. Postures and Gestures:  Our body postures can create a feeling of warm openness or cold rejection. For example, when someone faces us, sitting quietly with hands loosely folded in the lap, a feeling of anticipation and interest is created.

It is estimated that around 55% of what is perceived and understood by others is communicated by our nonverbal messages.  

This online communication skills training highlights the importance of listening   When we listen we gain information that is valuable for understanding our colleagues perceptions and resolving problems. 

When we have a deeper understanding of our colleague’s perceptions, whether we agree with it or not, we hold the key to understanding that person’s motivation, attitude, and behaviour.  

The understanding derived through listening enables managers to make better decisions.  

So why don’t we all listen more?  Because listening can be difficult and often, we subconsciously worry that if we listen attentively to someone we disagree with, we are inadvertently sending a message of agreement.

Effective listening requires;

• A desire to understand another human being, an attitude of respect and acceptance, and a willingness to open one’s mind to try and see things from another’s point of view.
• A high level of concentration and energy.
• Setting aside our own thoughts and agendas, putting ourselves in another’s shoes and making an effort to see the world through that person’s eyes.
• Suspending our judgment, evaluation, and approval in an attempt to understand another’s is frame of reference, emotions, and attitudes.