In this two-hour session, we will:

• Consider barriers to good communication at work.

• Learn how to ‘tune in’ to the signals we are giving others and the way others may see us.

• Practise listening better and asking the right questions.

• Learn how biases can impede communication and how to spot potential communication pitfalls in advance.

What characterises mastery of this skill?

Good communicators check in regularly to see if the other person has understood them. They are aware that they may carry assumptions that the other person doesn’t, and vice versa. A skilled communicator actively listens by asking reassuring questions and encourages open discussion. Their choice of words is conscious, polite and non-judgemental.

What characterises a lack of this skill?

Employees with a lack of communication skills often end up in misunderstandings or avoidable conflicts. During conversations, they might struggle to find the balance between speaking and listening. They tend  to make assumptions, don’t ask clarifying questions, and fail to reassure others when necessary, neglecting the emotional element of good communication (skills which have become doubly important thanks to the growth of video calls and online interaction).

“Communication is health; communication is truth.”– Virginia Woolf