COMMUNICATION AS A TOOL
Exploring the relationship between communication and job performance
Raising the quality and effectiveness of contact with colleagues
Using good communication to achieve excellent customer service
Identifying what you can give and receive in vital relationships
GETTING YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS EFFECTIVELY
Laying the groundwork
Communicating with greater clarity and directness
Identifying perceptual filters in communication
Breaking old habits
Recognizing and defusing defensive reactions
Avoiding disempowering communication
Adjusting delivery based upon the listener's body language
Employing language that builds authority and credibility
Dealing constructively with anger
Overcoming personal challenges
The importance of communication styles
Impact on interactions
Techniques for determining the styles of others
Concrete methods for bridging each of the communication styles
Communicating in stressful situations
Discussing technical topics with a non-technical audience
Jargon: when it can be used safely and when it should be avoided
Matching communication styles to preferred levels of technical detail
THE ART OF LISTENING
Active listening
Proven techniques for effective listening
Verifying comprehension via feedback
Differentiating between "emotional content" and message content
Calibrating message content by examining nonverbal inputs
Overcoming non-listening habits
Lending precision to listening
Verbal impact
Intonation
Rate of speech
Gestures
Facial expressions
Posture
Use of space
Dress
Eye contact
Listening to the whole message
THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PARADIGM
Considering everyone your customer
Methods for focusing on what is essential and important
Techniques for developing an exchange of views with end users and others
Establishing greater value for customers
Techniques for adding value
Communicating cross-culturally
Avoiding an unproductive discussion
DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING OPEN CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION
Uncovering hidden assumptions
Identifying appropriate levels of disclosure
Tips for validating effective communication
Reading between the lines
The impact of openness on relationships
Options for developing greater openness in your work relationships
Straight talk vs. tact in establishing openness
DEALING WITH CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS
Creating a language environment devoid of verbal abuse and defensiveness
Defusing defensiveness in others with no loss of face to anyone
Creating an effective interactive feedback loop
Building trust and mutual respect with authentic conversation |