Introduction
The ability to effectively influence
clients, colleagues, employees and superiors is a critical aspect of being
an effective manager. For this reason, companies today increasingly seek
to hire executives with razor-sharp communication skills, as well as
strong analytical abilities.
Powerful persuasion involves several vital
elements. These include the capacity to communicate content in the right
form and in an appropriate emotional context. It also requires knowing how
to carry this out on an interpersonal level (in presentations, for
example), as well as before large audiences. It also means overcoming the
special challenges that can arise when speaking in a language other than
your own.
Develop Your Communication Skills is a highly interactive
program that offers individualized feedback and video analysis. It covers
the following key areas:
· Rhetorical tools for interpersonal
communications, presentations and speeches
· Using emotional and
rational intelligence to persuade others
· Establishing personal and
professional credibility
· Techniques of influence
· Non-verbal
aspects of communication: managing nervous energy and a lack of confidence
·
The art of storytelling to communicate your message
· Rational-base
speeches (business presentations)
· Emotional speeches (special
occasions/visionary)
Program Content
Assessments:
Each
participant will be individually assessed to ascertain his or her personal
needs and private concerns. These assessments enable individuals to
understand their own emotions and motivations, which is an essential
precondition for understanding others' emotions and motivations - and the
key to touching an audience.
Planning your content:
There
is a process to preparing effective communications. You will not be
effective by sitting down and writing notes on a piece of paper five
minutes before you go to speak. We will look at how to open and how to
close your speeches.
Speaking Style:
Natural
speakers exhibit three basic qualities: authority, energy and audience
awareness. Authority means "looking and sounding as if you mean what you
say". Energy is "the impression that it matters to you". Audience
awareness is the ability to ensure that your communication is interactive
- and each listener feels recognized.
The Power of
Storytelling:
Human life is lived in story format. Connecting
with an audience requires the talent of telling the story behind your
vision, your project, and your brand, not just listing the attributes of a
particular product. These stories come from personal experiences that are
relevant to you, thereby making your message more relevant and credible
for others. This is more than just performing in front of an audience -
someone can be entertained but still not remember a thing that was said.
Storytelling is about distilling the essence of the message and making it
memorable. In other words, "show rather than tell," because illustrating a
point makes a longer lasting impact than proving a point.
Speech
Models:
We learn from role models. There will be a set of case
studies of four world leaders with four very different leadership and
communication styles: the inspirer, the negotiator, the persuader and the
winner of arguments. By considering the strengths and weaknesses of each
style, participants will be able to discern their own unique style, and
make adjustments in order to capitalize on or compensate for the strengths
and weaknesses inherent in their style.
Practical Tasks:
Participants
will learn about and then be required to make three presentations
themselves, which will be critiqued by their peers, and they will be given
written feedback.
1. The Rational-based Speech: arranging your
thoughts for interviews, informal meetings or business presentations,
using a deductive format supported by rhetorical tools such as metaphors,
examples, illustrations and analogies.
2. The Special Occasion
Speech: creating the right emotional atmosphere as a means of persuading
or inspiring others during a time of crisis, such as major corporate
change or business restructuring.
3. The Visionary Speech: making
people feel secure and winning credibility, in order to gain commitment
for your project, idea or your dream.
(Program content may be
adapted, in line with the program objectives.)
Methodology
The
program is a combination of lectures, case studies and in-class practical
exercises, including the delivery of speeches. Participants are divided
into small groups. These groups are designed to establish a high level of
trust between participants and faculty, thereby creating a powerful
learning environment.
Benefits
For participants:
·
Establish credibility and gain commitment from your audience
· Gain
confidence in your public speaking
· Learn how to express ideas as
opposed to just imparting information
· Discover ways to arrange
logically sound arguments
· Learn how to deal with your emotions and
the emotions of others
For companies:
·
Drive open communication among your key employees
· Groom business
leaders with a communication style that fosters commitment rather than
compliance
· Contribute to retain talent in the company
· Break
down departmental barriers and structures through the use of effective
communication
· Improve and strengthen relationships with clients
