Communication is one of the critical success factors in projects. Communication provides the foundation for defining and managing project objectives and scope, planning project performance, executing and controlling, and closing projects. This workshop gives project stakeholders at every level the performance edge to make their projects successful.

The communications process in the project environment is complex and cannot be mastered using a cookbook or formulaic approach. This workshop will examine how to maximize the effectiveness of project communications by recognizing the impacts of the various enablers on the different levels of communication skills. This workshop offers a mixture of knowledge and action learning using a mindset, skill set and toolset framework to enable participants to identify communication improvement opportunities in the project environment and to improve their personal ability to communicate.

Throughout the workshop, participants are being asked to pay attention to three aspects of their capability:

1. Mindsets that are either enabling them to be effective communicators such as embracing versus avoiding conflict. Inevitably each person will identify a mindset that is not helpful which they need to “reset” in order for them to be more effective.
2. Skill sets that need further development in order for them to be more effective such as listening, framing, facilitating, paraphrasing. Each participant is being asked to identify those supporting skills that will require additional focus and refinement.
3. Tool sets that need to be acquired or further developed that will provide leverage in use of time or clarity of messaging. Each participant will come away from the workshop with a job aid that provides additional tools which can take the form of a framework, a template, a job aid or even a book or helpful website.

The bottom line is that becoming a more effective communicator requires more than just skill development. People need the right attitude (aka mindset) and the right tools and support.

Building on the output of the mindset, skill set and tool set model above, each participant will be asked (periodically during the workshop) to identify specific behaviors that need to be stopped , started or continued in order for them to improve how they communicate in their current role. There is a worksheet in their workbook to keep track of these three categories of personal change. Part of the workshop summary and close is for each person to articulate their stop, start and continue list and a work plan for changing their high priority items. Participants are encouraged to share this workplan with their manager or supervisor. Bill will be requesting a conference call follow-up with the participants in the workshop within 30 days as a “check-in” on progress.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants will leave the workshop with a clear perspective on:

• What effective communication looks like, especially in the context of presenting ideas, resolving conflict, facilitating dialogue, influencing, and the framing and reframing of ideas and concepts.
• Their individual current state for each of the above communication skills.
• The identification and prioritization of any gaps between current skill levels and what defines “good” communications in each area described above.
• The required mindset, skill set and tool set adjustments to close any gaps in communications ability.
• A commitment to making any identified adjustments including a time line for priority items.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

The Communications in Action workshop was designed for all project team members, managers, and stakeholders to help them better share ideas, make decisions, and resolve conflicts.

PREREQUISITE

There is no prerequisite for this course. It functions as a stand-alone course.

MATERIALS

You will receive a course binder containing course notes, and exercises.