Why Study Effective Communication

Training and mentoring programs provide in effective communication provides students with the skills and knowledge to further their personal development in terms of communication. The training consists of seminars, workshops and group work sessions to give students foundational, practical and applicable knowledge. Effective communication ensures clear expectations are set between the student and mentor. To be successful, the mentor and trainee should set up learning objectives that are specific, measurable, require action, realistic and timely.

What are Effective Communication Courses?

Effective communication courses deliver you the skills to improve the outcome from every interaction. As with any skill, they can be learned and developed with practice in a working environment. In summary, effective communication skills include active listening, verbal communication including asking questions, non verbal communication, paraphrasing and summarising. Training will help you clarify the message/information you want to communicate in your own head first. The kernel of effective communication is knowing what you want to say and how you are going to say it. Otherwise it is impossible to communicate any information both accurately and confidently.

Course Content Includes

You will learn how to plan and prepare the information, taking into account your objective and the receivers of the information. You will gain an understanding of the importance of articulating the message using appropriate language. Training will show you how to listen actively and openly to the feedback received and how to focus on the information you are receiving.

How to be an Active Listener and Communicator

• Developing the skill of asking questions that helps both parties reach a common understanding.
• Using verbal communication to articulate the message to minimise misunderstandings.
• How to use non verbal communication appropriately and being able to respond to non verbal communication appropriately.
• How to use paraphrasing and summarising to clarify understanding and ensure both parties are in agreement as to what has been discussed.

Listening is a key part of communication, studying effective communication highlights the importance of listening to ensure that each party understands the other parties input. Of course, this does not signal consent or agreement, but listening and communicating clearly is a key part of the negotiation process which may lead to an agreement. Failing to actively listen means that you are really only understanding your input and the reasons for your input i.e. your perceptions of the situation.

What you Will Learn

The key to effective communication is active listening.It is a skill that must be developed if you want to develop effective communication skills. Active listening means being silent and listening to understand rather than assuming, jumping to conclusions, finding fault or just waiting for your opportunity to speak. If you are listening actively you should be able to reflect back their words and message to the person delivering them and also their meaning and any feeling contained therein and this will put you in the best position to ask further questions to obtain any necessary information. By doing an effective communication course you will learn to focus totally on the speaker and repeat, rephrase or reflect back your understanding of the speaker’s meaning and feelings. This will then prepare the situation for you to deliver your own message in a similar environment.

Why it Delivers

No message, no matter how brilliant, can be effectively delivered without good communication. Through training you will be able to identify your objective or purpose and what it is that you want to achieve. What is the overall purpose of the communication? If this isn’t clear to you it is more difficult to convey it to other people.

Training in effective workplace communication covers common barriers to communication which gives some tips on how to avoid common errors here. To develop effective communication skills you also need to consider the huge role that non verbal communication plays. We are always communicating something to others, even when silent. It is important to be aware of what your body language and facial expressions are conveying to others and to yourself. Effective communications training will provide both you and your organisation with a workable skillset of communications tools that can be used both internally and externally to enhance business performance.