Communication

Communication is an integral part of all our working lives, whether that be at a cross-cultural level, team level or at an individual level. Effective communication is paramount in times of crisis and/or change and is predicated on sound listening, questioning and articulation skills.

LinkedIn Learning and Future Learn Courses:

We have curated a collection of courses that are available to watch on LinkedIn Learning and FutureLearn which explore the theme of communication:

• Communication Foundations Course on LinkedIn Learning
• Communicating with Confidence Course on LinkedIn Learning
• Communicating Across Cultures Course on LinkedIn Learning
• Crisis Communication Course on LinkedIn Learning
• Communicating in Times of Change on LinkedIn Learning
• Improving Your Listening Skills Course on LinkedIn Learning
• Effective Listening Course on LinkedIn Learning
• Having Difficult Conversations Course on LinkedIn Learning
• Communications and Interpersonal Skills at Work on FutureLearn

Tips on communication

During our surgery sessions we identified and shared some key top tips:

1. Have regular check-ins.
2. Take a proactive approach.
3. Give people a sense of belonging through building rapport.
4. Give full attention (eg, lean in online).
5. Offer options (eg, full attention for 2 minutes now, or 30 minutes later).
6. Ask open questions, read a Microsoft Sway to find out about appreciative enquiry.
7. Don't accept (just) nods as agreement or understanding (eg, summarise actions to clarify understanding).
8. Consider your own and other people's default communication styles (based on personality / behavioural models).
9. In meetings, be clear on the key message you want to get across.
10. Use polls in larger meetings.
11. Don't make assumptions.
12. Pin top communicators in Chat function in Teams.