Communicating Effectively

Who is this course for?

This course is for all staff who would like to sharpen their communication skills by identifying barriers to communication. Participants will explore strategies for overcoming these barriers and develop skills to build influence and impact.

By the end of this workshop participants will:

• Have reviewed their current communication skills and impact and developed a practical plan to enhance this
• Understood their own and others communication styles and how to have the greatest impact in different settings and contexts 
• Enhanced their own communication skills

How long is this course?

The course duration is 3.5 hours, followed by a 30-minute action learning set, 2 months following the programme.

What topics will be covered?

• The communication process and how it can go wrong 
• How our brains process what we hear – the filters we use 
• Key rules of effective communication 
• Understanding your own communication style and that of others 
• Using that understanding in everyday communications at work 
• Focused listening and skilled questioning 
• Getting yourself heard in different situations 
• Online communication – the minefield of our new virtual world and getting the best from it 
• The assertive communicator 
• Reviewing your communication and action planning to enhance your skills

Do I need to prepare anything before or after the session? 

Pre work will include: 

• A self-analysis questionnaire 
• Two articles – HBR on Getting to Yes and a second article on virtual communications
• View video on taking control of non-verbal communications 
• Think about your purpose for attending. What would be a positive take-away for you? 
• The tasks will take no more than 40 minutes to complete

Post course work will include: 

• Completing actions committed to in personal action plan 
• Participants are encouraged to:
  • a. Maintain a reflective journal for 6 weeks, detailing critical interactions and learning points.
  • b. Read the articles provided on getting feedback and actively solicit feedback from colleagues in a face to face meeting
  • c. Participants may wish to complete a Thomas International Personal profile analysis to further build self-awareness and enhance their communication style and receive expert 1:1 feedback 

• Updating of actions and impact on digital whiteboard before action learning set
• A 30 minute, online, action learning set, facilitated by Invisio, 2 months after the programme to share experiences and learnings with one another and problem solve as needed.

Participants on this programme will have access to our online whiteboard and document repository for up to 3 months after completing the programme and all resources will continue to be available to them over this time. The materials can also be downloaded locally.

For details of upcoming events or to book your place on available courses, please visit the (opens in a new window)HR - Professional Development booking centre  If your chosen course is fully booked or no longer available, you can access the UCD LinkedIn learning portal via your UCD Connect login where you will find a range of eLearning courses. 

If you have any further queries on this programme, please contact (opens in a new window)peopledevelopment@ucd.ie or call ext 4919.

Who is this course for?

This course is for all staff who would like to learn how to design and deliver a presentation that is clear, concise and complete. The aim of the session is to enhance participants’ confidence and capability to design and deliver a presentation with ease and conviction.

How long is this course?

The course duration is 3 hours.

What topics will be covered?

• Understanding your audience
• Structuring the presentation 
• Having a clear beginning, middle and end 
• Use of visual aids 
• Non-verbal signals (body language)
• How to manage questions

Do I need to prepare anything before or after the session? 

Participants will be asked to prepare a 3-5 minute presentation on a topic and deliver this without Powerpoint. Following the session participants will be asked to actively seek out opportunity to make a presentation to put into practice their new skillset.

For details of upcoming events or to book your place on available courses, please visit the (opens in a new window)HR - Professional Development booking centre  If your chosen course is fully booked or no longer available, you can access the UCD LinkedIn learning portal via your UCD Connect login where you will find a range of eLearning courses. 

If you have any further queries on this programme, please contact (opens in a new window)peopledevelopment@ucd.ie or call ext 4919.

Who is this course for?

This course is for all staff who would like to be able to speak with clarity and increased confidence; compose more effective communication; control aspects of personal communication style and engage their audience with a memorable presentation.

The means by which we communicate ideas and challenges to an engaged audience is often as important as the message itself. Using our interacting communication skills to engage a wide variety of audiences is critical in effective and memorable communication. Authentic presentation is achieved through consideration of many aspects of voice, including tone, colour and pace. Coupled with this is an awareness and control over our body language, our posture and movement during presentation, which can help reinforce or distract from the core message.

How long is this course?

The course duration is 3 hours.

What topics will be covered?

• Speaking with clarity using voice
• Unlocking colourful, authentic and memorable voice communication
• Communicating openly using body language; 
• Personalising communication with storytelling.

Do I need to prepare anything before or after the session? 

No advance preparation is required.

For details of upcoming events or to book your place on available courses, please visit the (opens in a new window)HR - Professional Development booking centre  If your chosen course is fully booked or no longer available, you can access the UCD LinkedIn learning portal via your UCD Connect login where you will find a range of eLearning courses. 

If you have any further queries on this programme, please contact (opens in a new window)peopledevelopment@ucd.ie or call ext 4919.

Who is this course for?

This course is for all staff who would like to develop the skills and confidence to have the conversation they most dread – online or face to face.

At the end of this programme, participants will be able to: 

• Actively participate and speak up in critical conversations in a confident and assertive way (on the phone, in small or large groups, in formal or informal settings, face to face or online) 
• Assess other parties better in a conversation and present their case in a way that is more likely to appeal to them
• Know when to speak up and when to keep quiet
• Gain the confidence to prepare and make their case in the presence of more senior people and with those who challenge them with difficult questions
• Know when and how to “Say No!”

How long is this course?

The course duration is 7 hours (2 x 3 hour workshops over 2 weeks plus 1 hour Action Learning Set, online, 1 month later)

What topics will be covered?

• Critical Conversations - what are they and what makes them critical? 
• Our reactions to critical conversations 
• Controlling yourself 
• Stages of a conversation 
• What makes an effective conversation? 
• Dynamics and politics 
• Controlling your input and your material - preparation and the 4Fs Model 
• Structure of your point, your demonstration, your presentation
• Handling those challenging situations and dealing with questions
• Getting yourself heard and controlling the discussion
• Saying “No”
• Having the conversation online
• Putting it into practice with scripted role plays – your own real-life situations

Do I need to prepare anything before or after the session? 

Pre work will include: 

• Complete the response to conflict questionnaire 
• Complete the assertiveness questionnaire 
• Read the articles provided on managing conflict

Post course work will include: 

• Completing actions committed to in personal action plan 
• Participants can if they wish request the support of a trusted ‘accountability buddy’ to support them in the execution of their action plan 
• We advise participants to complete a reflective learning journal following the workshop, focusing on conflict situations, what they learned from the experience and actions for the future.
• Updating of actions and impact on digital whiteboard before action learning set 
• A one-hour, online, action learning set will be facilitated two months after the programme to share experiences and learnings with one another and problem solve as needed.

Participants on this programme will have access to an online whiteboard and document repository for up to 3 months after completing the programme and all resources will continue to be available to them over this time. The materials can also be downloaded locally.

Booking:

For details of upcoming events or to book your place on available courses, please visit the (opens in a new window)HR - Professional Development booking centre  If your chosen course is fully booked or no longer available, you can access the UCD LinkedIn learning portal via your UCD Connect login where you will find a range of eLearning courses. The 2021/22 training course catalogue will be launched and available to book from the start of the next Academic Year

If you have any further queries on this programme, please contact (opens in a new window)peopledevelopment@ucd.ie or call ext 4919.

Who is this course for?

This programme is for all staff who would like to develop their strategic influencing skills.

At the end of this programme, participants will be able to: 

• Develop a more strategic approach to leading without authority and influencing as well as demonstrate practical techniques to build influence and impact 
• Understand the essential elements of trust as the foundation of influence & impact, and develop strategies for building trust with others 
• Build their influence & impact through identifying and responding appropriately to stakeholder needs
• Understand differences in others and how to adapt to their communication style 
• Recognise their own style when persuading / influencing others, and demonstrate the right style for the right situation Use techniques to manage in a matrix, with conflicting priorities

How long is this course?

The course duration is 7 hours.

What topics will be covered?

• What’s the goal – are we clear on what we want to achieve?
• Understanding the heuristics of how we think and why we think in a particular way 
• The What and the Why and the Who and the How
• Self-awareness – a strategic approach
• How people respond – positively and negatively to influence tactics 
• Overcoming barriers
• Reading the situation 
• Key interpersonal skills, including strategic listening; questioning techniques; words, tone and body language
• Using storytelling in communications
• Styles of influencing 
• Respecting each other’s value
• Strengths and areas for development 
• Skills practice and personal action plans

Do I need to prepare anything before or after the session? 

Pre work will include: 

• Watch a custom designed short video introducing the programme
• Complete an ‘Influencing Styles; questionnaire and bring the results with you to the programme 
• Come with a current situation important to you where you have to influence and impact without authority. Complete this exercise using the template provided 
• Article: Read the HBR Article: Exerting Influence Without Authority 
• Watch the Robert Cialdini video on influencing tactics

Post course work will include: 

• Completing actions committed to in personal action plan
• Participants are asked to keep a reflective journal detailing situations in which they needed to influence 
• Updating of actions and impact on digital whiteboard before action learning set
• A one-hour, online, action learning set, facilitated by Invisio, 1 month after the programme to share experiences and learnings with one another and problem solve as needed.

Participants on this programme will have access to an online whiteboard and document repository for up to 3 months after completing the programme and all resources will continue to be available to them over this time. The materials can also be downloaded locally.

For details of upcoming events or to book your place on available courses, please visit the (opens in a new window)HR - Professional Development booking centre  If your chosen course is fully booked or no longer available, you can access the UCD LinkedIn learning portal via your UCD Connect login where you will find a range of eLearning courses. 

If you have any further queries on this programme, please contact (opens in a new window)peopledevelopment@ucd.ie or call ext 4919.

Who is this course for?

This course is for all staff who would like to improve their business writing skills. The aim of this course is to help participants to develop their writing so that it is clear, concise, complete and correct.

Beginning with an activity highlighting how bias and ambiguity in written communication are communicated, the training course will take participants through the three steps to effective business writing: Prepare, Write, Edit. Typical errors with punctuation and homophones are highlighted. A confidence-building and time-saving report template is also explored.

How long is this course?

The course duration is 3 hours.

What topics will be covered?

• Learn how to write correspondence that is clear, complete, concise and correct.
• Pinpoint the purpose of the correspondence 
• Learn an effective three stage approach to writing emails
• Identify, examine, and apply the key principles of business writing
• Organise, structure and evaluate materials

Do I need to prepare anything before or after the session? 

To prepare for the workshop participants are asked to:

• Choose a piece of your own writing (email or report) that represents your writing style. Keep this at hand during the workshop. 
• Watch a four minute video - (video link will be provided with the course joining instructions). 

Resources on business writing and video from LinkedIn Learning are provided following the workshop.

Booking:
For details of upcoming events or to book your place on available courses, please visit the (opens in a new window)HR - Professional Development booking centre  If your chosen course is fully booked or no longer available, you can access the UCD LinkedIn learning portal via your UCD Connect login where you will find a range of eLearning courses. 

If you have any further queries on this programme, please contact (opens in a new window)peopledevelopment@ucd.ie or call ext 4919.

Who is this course for?

This training is for all staff who would like to improve their presentation skills. The course is highly practical, with participants delivering presentations during the session which are recorded by the trainer for comments and feedback. There are also several opportunities throughout the training to work in small groups to deliver presentations and receive / give feedback.

What topics will be covered?

On this course, you will learn how to: 

• Analyse your audience so that you pitch your material at the right level (‘start where the audience is’) 
• Crystallize achievable objectives which drive content and contribute to the achievement of the overall vision of your School or Unit
• Select one of six presentation structures that suits your material 
• Colour your content for impact and memorability 
• Use PowerPoint appropriately and creatively 
• Have online impact 
• Make impactful ‘on the spot’ presentations 
• Present with impact, whether in person or online

How long is this course?

The total course duration is 7 hours and is delivered over two 3.5 hour sessions.

Do I need to prepare anything before or after the session? 

Pre work will include: 

Participants receive a copy of the Performance Matters presentation skills workbook in advance - this allows them to read much of the course content so that they can focus on application and practice. 

Participants are asked to prepare a 3-minute introductory presentation.

Participants are asked to identify a presentation that they can work on (design/improve) during the workshop.

In between the two sessions: 

• Using a supplied template, participants reflect on any presentations that they made and/or attend 
• Participants prepare a 5-minute presentation for presentation/feedback at Session 2 
• Further links to good presentation examples are shared

Post course work: 

Links to online resources, including good presentation examples will be shared with participants.

Booking:
For details of upcoming events or to book your place on available courses, please visit the (opens in a new window)HR - Professional Development booking centre  If your chosen course is fully booked or no longer available, you can access the UCD LinkedIn learning portal via your UCD Connect login where you will find a range of eLearning courses. 

If you have any further queries on this programme, please contact (opens in a new window)peopledevelopment@ucd.ie or call ext 4919.

Who is this course for?

This course is for all staff members interested in developing their communication skills. The aim of the programme is to improve the effectiveness of participants as communicators and to provide some techniques and approaches to enable assertive communication. 

On completion of this programme, participants will be able to:

• Adapt and modify their communication style and skills when dealing with others, to get their message across
• Understand their own style when influencing others
• Recognise assertive, aggressive and passive behaviour in self and others
• Have the knowledge to enhance own assertiveness
• Know how to communicate across different mediums especially in the new world online environment

How long is this course?

The course duration is 3.5 hours, followed by a 30-minute action learning set, 1 month following the programme.

What topics will be covered?

• Self-Awareness – the 5 dimensions
• Communications Skills (Barriers to Effective Communication; Key interpersonal skills; Communication across different mediums including online video conference)
• Communication styles – understanding yours and that of others
• Strategies for communication in difficult situations (Assertive communication; Getting your message across)
• Personal action plan

Do I need to prepare anything before or after the session? 

Pre work will include: 

• Complete the online communication style questionnaire 
• Read two short articles: a. How to have difficult conversation b. How to Handle 3 Types of Difficult Conversations 
• Watch the short video on nonverbal communication 
• Optional – but valuable - Think about a situation that you are happy to share with others in small group discussions, where you feel you need to be more effective at getting your message across or  be more assertive.

Post course work will include: 

• Completing actions committed to in personal action plan 
• Maintain a reflective journal for 6 weeks, detailing critical interactions and learning points. 
• Gain feedback from others on their communication skills using a simple online feedback form 
• Updating of actions and impact on digital whiteboard before action learning set 
• A 30 minute, online, action learning set, facilitated by Invisio, 1 month after the programme to share experiences and learnings with one another and problem solve as needed.

Participants on this programme will have access to our online whiteboard and document repository for up to 3 months after completing the programme and all resources will continue to be available to them over this time. The materials can also be downloaded locally.

For details of upcoming events or to book your place on available courses, please visit the (opens in a new window)HR - Professional Development booking centre  If your chosen course is fully booked or no longer available, you can access the UCD LinkedIn learning portal via your UCD Connect login where you will find a range of eLearning courses. 

If you have any further queries on this programme, please contact (opens in a new window)peopledevelopment@ucd.ie or call ext 4919.

Who is this course for?
This course is for all members of staff who would like to improve the effectiveness of their written communication. 

What topics will be covered?

This course will focus on developing the following skills which relate to communicating effectively in written documentation:

• How to produce a clear writing plan 
• Overcome the 3 common flaws in business writing: Grammar Gaffs, Crazy Words & Daft Logic 
• Develop structure & format in written communication 
• Produce clear, persuasive arguments 
• Make writing documents attractive to readers

How long is this course?
The course duration is 3 hours.

Do I need to prepare anything before or after the session? 

It is imperative that all course participants bring a sample of their work with them. Pre course work includes choosing a sample that is relevant to their needs.

To ensure that the training techniques can be successfully transferred to the workplace, all participants agree to use at least one of the training exercises on real work documentation within the following month.

For details of upcoming events or to book your place on available courses, please visit the (opens in a new window)HR - Professional Development booking centre  If your chosen course is fully booked or no longer available, you can access the UCD LinkedIn learning portal via your UCD Connect login where you will find a range of eLearning courses. 

If you have any further queries on this programme, please contact (opens in a new window)peopledevelopment@ucd.ie or call ext 4919.

Collections: (opens in a new window)Communications Skills, (opens in a new window)Presentation Skills

Learning Path: (opens in a new window)Develop your Presentation Skills

Click here for more information on LinkedIn Learning.