Course Description
Essential Communication and Writing Skills for Supervisors and Managers
You’ll learn …
- How to present and sell your ideas up and down the organizational ladder
- How to speak up for what you believe without sounding confrontational
- How to develop a keen awareness of situations and people’s needs
- How to engage employees in virtual presentations and meetings
- And much more!
Not that long ago, you could more or less stay in the comfort zone of a single communication style or preference. Not so today. That’s why we developed this seminar—to teach managers and supervisors how to connect confident speaking skills with effective writing skills to convey their message with authority, power and credibility, no matter what the situation. Join us and you’ll learn how to tailor both the content of your message and the form of delivery to cover the full spectrum of preferences of direct reports, colleagues, board members and other stakeholders.
Day One: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Getting started: You as a successful manager, communicator and leader
- Speak it—or write it? Why you must clarify your intention before you decide
- Writing to gain the upper hand across all organizational levels: Best practices for leaders
- Face-to-face vs. telephone vs. e-mail: Choose well and half the battle is over
- Avoid e-mail pitfalls: Consider your words carefully!
- How to turn a paper into a presentation—5 simple steps
- Inspire, influence, motivate: Show your leadership capacity with these presentation tips
Challenge 1: How to use your influence to win the support of decision makers
- How to write a compelling business case that can be converted into a verbal proposal
- The most effective ways to win support for any idea, project or innovation
- Monroe’s Motivated Sequence—a 5-step formula for organizing a successful argument
- Strategies for pitching your idea before a live audience of 1 or 100
Challenge 2: How to communicate change in a way that eases fear, minimizes resistance and gets everyone on board
- Understanding the reasons people resist change
- Do’s and don’ts of breaking the news, whether written or verbal
- How to involve employees and turn them into advocates
- The secret to overcoming objections? Communication—lots of it
- Communicating change: What every manager must understand about e-mail, face-to-face, one-on-one and live group meetings
Challenge 3: How to display confidence and authority on employee issues up and down the organizational hierarchy
- From revealing clothing to a crummy attitude … how to broach an uncomfortable subject with an employee
- What many managers fail to do in one-on-one coaching, counseling and discipline meetings
- E-mail is the easiest way to document a problem—or recognize a job well done—but is it the best?
- Criticism: Understand when to deliver it to your entire team and when one-on-one is best
- Giving credit where credit is due: What medium is best when your team deserves high praise?
- Getting pushback? How to explain or defend your actions without sounding defensive
Challenge 4: How to communicate persuasively with all parties, internal and external, in your role as hiring manager
- How do you document and present your staffing case to management? In dollar signs, of course
- Writing legally correct, action-oriented job descriptions that candidates can visualize themselves doing
- Social media recruiting—rules you need to know
- What role e-mail should play in the communication process and what to avoid
- Selling top candidates on you, your job opening and your company—on the phone and face-to-face
- Documentation is the key to a smooth selection process
Day Two: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Challenge 5: Presenting “state of the department” summaries and updates
- 3 components of an effective status report
- Different audiences have different needs—how not to overload or under-inform
- Key factors management will want to see when assessing your department’s health and performance
- 5 ways to deliver a status report—whether to higher-ups or employees
- The rule for compiling a written summary: Keep it short and simple
Challenge 6: How to communicate in a cross-cultural, multigenerational workplace with diverse expectations
- 3 simple ways to communicate with people with different values, beliefs and backgrounds
- Why understanding cultural differences is crucial to your long-term success
- What you cannot assume about people from various cultures
- Common communication mistakes managers make in today’s cross-cultural, multigenerational workplace and how to avoid them
- Tips for communicating with every generation
Challenge 7: How to deliver information with clarity and composure in a virtual environment
- Preparing to go on-air: 5 basic rules that always apply
- How to deliver your message with strength and impact
- Incorporating slides, visuals, photos and written materials
- The 5 worst mistakes in virtual presentations and meetings
- Interactive moments you can easily add in to boost audience participation
- Deciding how to manage questions, comments and follow-up messages—virtually, by e-mail or in person
Challenge 8: How to break down barriers and work with people in different functional areas
- What information needs to be communicated—and how? When sending e-mails or talking by phone just won’t do it
- Tips on choosing whom to include on different types of messages
- Tools for keeping everyone up to date on projects and deadlines
- How to get through to others who have very different communication styles
- Why interdepartmental communication is so poor and how to improve the flow
Putting it all together
- Fulfilling your communication responsibilities: What goals are most important to you?
- Recognize the areas you need to focus on and strengthen
- Assess roadblocks you may encounter and be prepared with your best response
- Define your own “Communication in Action” plan that will give you the edge in any situation
Comments
Registrations for classes must originate from either the United States or Canada.
Cancellations and substitutions:Cancellations received up to five working days before the seminar is refundable, minus a ($10 for one-day event and $25 for two-day event) registration service charge. After that, cancellations are subject to the entire seminar fee, which you may apply toward a future seminar. Please note that if you don’t cancel and don’t attend, you are still responsible for payment. Substitutions may be made at any time.
Continuing Education Credit: Continuing Education Credits are based on program length and completion in accordance with the National Task Force for Continuing Education guidelines. Please contact your professional licensing board or organization to verify specific requirements.
Comments
Cancelation Policy: If you cannot attend an event, you may send someone else in your place. If that isn’t an option for you, cancellations received up to five working days before the event are refundable, minus a registration service charge ($10 for one-day events; $25 for multiple-day events). After that, cancellations are subject to the entire seminar fee, which you may apply toward a future seminar. Please note that if you don’t cancel and don’t attend, you are still responsible for payment.