Communication Skills Courses

"Verbal communication is the sharing of information using your voice. It's an important part of daily life and indispensable to making yourself understood. Verbal communication skills include knowing how to modulate your pitch and vary your cadence to maintain interest and engagement from your listener(s). Non-verbal communication is just as important and includes your facial expressions, body language, and gestures. If your non-verbal communication unintentionally contradicts or distracts from your words, it can diminish the value of what you’re saying. Written communication is the use of written words to convey information and is often a standalone means of communication when sending emails, texts, etc. Visual communication involves the use of images to make points clearer or to add meaning. Knowing how to incorporate images and imagery into your communication can make events like presentations more compelling. "

"The four most common communication styles are assertive, passive, passive-aggressive, and aggressive. Assertive communication is the healthiest of styles and tends to produce the best results. It involves being confident in your opinions and requests but also empathetic and understanding of others. Passive communicators often struggle to make their wants or needs known and tend to be people-pleasers who avoid conflict. Those with this style of communication often let those with more assertive communication styles lead the way. Passive-aggressive communicators tend to show being easy-going and friendly, but flickers of aggression and anger often appear throughout their communications. Aggressive communication is often hostile, selfish, threatening, and boastful and can lead to others feeling talked over or belittled. "

"A company that communicates effectively is a company that can weather storms better, bring new ideas to fruition faster, and better avoid potential problems. Communication training lets individuals within a business have better interpersonal connections, which benefits all stakeholders in many ways. The business can spot issues on the horizon more clearly. They enjoy better workflows and increased productivity. Their business partnerships and relationships grow stronger and more productive. Their advertising better aligns with their goals and gets points across more clearly. Employee turnover is lower due to greater workforce satisfaction. Finally, businesses enjoy better finances and can report better investor returns. Effective communication affects all parts of a business. "

"A good communicator is always honest; even when they need to present criticism or initiate a conflict, they do so in a way that is positive, helpful, and well-intentioned. Good communicators are also proactive and do not procrastinate on having difficult conversations. They recognize that letting resentments fester over time is unhealthy and unhelpful, and they understand the value of providing clear expectations ahead of time. Knowing how to ask good, thoughtful, and useful questions is also a hallmark of a good communicator. It's not just about how communicators convey their thoughts and ideas. A good communicator is also a good listener. They actively listen to understand what the speaker is saying and tune in to the speaker's mood by picking up changes in tone and demeanor. Good communicators say what they need to say in as few words as possible. They are also reliable and understand that if they do not make good on their word, it will mean less in the future. "