Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills

OBJECTIVES

By the end of the programme delegates will:

• Have the ability to communicate with greater skill
• Have a positive awareness of their own personality and their impact on others
• Be able to communicate more assertively and with greater impact
• Have enhanced their active listening skills
• Be able to use interpersonal skills to build their team and gain the commitment of others

PROGRAMME DETAILS

Day One Introduction

• What makes a good communicator?
• How do you see yourself?
• How do you really come across?
• Self evaluation- my style
• Behaviour options – aggressive, passive, consultative
• Exercise
• VIDEO – The Great Communicator

Day Two Using your voice effectively

• Develop a great awareness of your voice
• Learn to speak with confidence
• Learn to develop a more expressive tone of voice
• Understand how the voice conveys meaning
• Learn how to use your voice to influence your listeners

Active Listening

• Proven techniques for effective listening
• Understand the barriers to good listening
• How to listen effectively to build rapport
• Questioning techniques to aid understanding
• Differentiating between emotional context and message context
• Lending precision to listening by: verbal impact, intonation, rate of speech, facial expressions, gestures and eye contact

Day Three Using Body Language Effectively

• Learn how to appear more approachable and confident
• Power of eye contact
• Learn how to be in control of your body language

How to Present Yourself Successfully

• How to create an immediate impression
• Use of voice and body language to your advantage
• Exercise: Give a short individual presentation with feedback

Day Four Styles of Communication

• Identify your preferred style of communication
• Become sensitive to other people’s styles
• Learn how to enhance your message
• Recognise and avoid the barriers to effective communication
• Practise communication and assertive techniques
• Understand the various communication skills
• Recognise the various stages in persuading or influencing employees

Interpersonal Effectiveness

• self awareness
• emotional intelligence
• work life balance
• managing change
• handling emotional stress, frustration and anger
• impact of gender on interpersonal effectiveness

Day Five Working with others

• Putting people at ease – establishing a rapport
• Giving positive feedback
• Giving criticism in an open and constructive manner
• Influencing and gaining commitment
• Handling difficult people, standing firm saying ‘No’ in difficult situations
• Using interpersonal skills to build your team
• Role Play exercise