Communication Skills: Writing, Reporting & Communication with Co-Workers

Introduction

Whether you communicate under pressure, manage challenges in interpersonal relationships, or look to build lasting rapport, your communication style and competence are the cornerstones for improving your chances of achieving your objectives. The aim of this course is to assist you in becoming a more effective communicator by identifying people’s thinking patterns and preferred learning methods and by tailoring your communication accordingly. Getting a better understanding of how you communicate with others as well as how others communicate with you will improve business and personal relationships. Moreover, this course will help you fine-tune the way you interact with others, which can be the key to your workplace and overall success. Meet the challenge of communication and writing business correspondence! Business communication and writing for Professionals gives you the communication skills you need to write and edit all types of documents...and win the confidence of your boss. In today's business climate, organizations are facing fluctuating economic trends...reductions in staff...budget cuts. The result? There's more work to do in less time, money, and people to get the job done. Your boss needs you to shoulder more responsibility...to actually compose business documents. Business Writing for Administrative Professionals is designed for this purpose. Does your boss feel comfortable turning to you with writing assignments? And, once the project is yours, how do you get started? How do you gain the confidence to stare down the blank page? Is your grammar up to snuff? What's the right tone for your business correspondence?

Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Use advanced communication tools and skills to deliver various types of messages
• Identify the different personal listening styles and discover their own
• Apply meta programs to improve understanding of people
• Describe and harness the power of body language
• Practice and use assertiveness skills in different situations
• Demonstrate the use of the secrets of influence for effective communication
• Write effective emails, memos and letters
• Use rules for organizing content in a clear and concise manner
• Match writing complexity to the modern business environment
• Apply advanced structuring techniques in writing that yields a desirable response
• Identify and talk to their reader’s interests
•  State the correct structure and presentation of different layouts of letters.
• Plan lenght and order of sequence of correspondence.
• Use appropriate content, style and language, clarity and accuracy.
• Structure Sentences using correct grammar.
• Use the correct style and tone.
• Write titles, introductions, body of letters, conclusions and recommendations for different needs.
• Deal effectively, efficiently and confidently with letters that persuade, inform, instruct, sell, inquire or complain.
• Deal effectively with miscellaneous correspondence, in-house communications.
• Use the correct layout, style, content and accuracy for sending faxes and electronic mail.
• Practice writing skills 
• Communicate clearly and effectively both on a one-to-one basis and in group situations such as meetings
• Build  rapport and interpersonal relationships and develop their influencing skills
• Resolve conflicts and differences through effective, creative, and mutually satisfactory negotiation leading where possible to win-win solutions
• Maximize deal benefits in commercial negotiations
• Make formal presentations to small and large groups with clarity and persuasiveness
• Handle audience questions effectively and with integrity
• Get support for new ideas and change initiatives  
• Use a number of easy-to-learn report writing techniques.
• Ensure their reports are well structured, that they flow logically, and look professional.
• Make their reports easy to read, and therefore to understand.
• Make essential parts of the report and stand out.
• Make it easy for different readers to navigate around the report.
• Produce documents that enhance the image of both the writer and the organization.

Training Methodology

This is an interactive workshop is designed to be interactive and participatory. It includes various pedagogical tools to enable participants to function effectively and efficiently in a multilateral environment. The course will be built on four pedagogical pillars: concept learning (presentations by the consultant), role-playing (group exercises), experience sharing (roundtable discussions), and exposure to case studies and scenarios. The online course is conducted online using MS-Teams/ClickMeeting.

Who Should Attend?

This course is targeted at employees, supervisors, middle managers, and senior managers seeking to take their communication skills to the next level by developing advanced communication techniques and strategies.

Target Competencies

• Verbal and non-verbal communication
• Building rapport
• Influencing others
• Inspiring and persuading others
• Providing and receiving feedback
• Assertiveness

Course Outline

Day 1: Defining Effective Communication

• Communication: definition and characteristics
• Myths about communication
• Communication functions
• The four laws of communication
• Evolution of communication
• Communicating for results
• Understanding elements of communication
• The element of noise
• Mehrabian’s 55-38-7 rule
• Overcoming communication anxiety and other obstacles
• Communication etiquette

Advanced Techniques for Effective Writing

• Defining effective writing
• Characteristics of effective writers
• Understanding the hallmarks of effective communicators
• Elements of written communication
• Writing in a business context
• Understanding your audience
• Setting a purpose for your writing
• Understanding sources of miscommunication
• Tips for business writing

Day 2: Mastering Body Language

• The art of body language
• Components of non-verbal communication
• The power of appearance
• Communicating through colors
• Evaluating your body language skills
• Eliciting thinking patterns through eye movement
• Building rapport using body language

Writing Style

• Adding a personal touch to business writing
• Organizing paragraphs effectively
• Using varied sentences
• The 6 Cs of effective writing
• Recognizing clichés and jargon
• Applying the gunning fox index for writing complexity
• Using visual aids to support text
• Going the last inch: proofreading your work

Day 3:  Advanced Assertiveness Skills

• Understanding assertiveness: definition and values
• Components of passive, assertive and aggressive styles
• Assertiveness rights and responsibilities
• Activities for practicing assertive behavior
• Managing criticism assertively

Day 4: The Power of Influence and Persuasion

• Definition and characteristics of influence
• The 6 principles of persuasion: how to apply them
• Bases and sources of power
• Dealing with difficult people using persuasion

Day 5: Responding to Complex Situations through Writing

• Building rapport with your audience
• Managing expectations: responding to bad news
• Managing expectations: saying no
• Effectively handing difficult individuals
• Hostile: responding assertively
• Pessimist: sticking to facts
• Nagger: setting the rules
• Mr. Know-it-all: staying focused
• Egoist: getting descriptive
• Manipulator: taking the initiative