Interpersonal Communication Skills

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Mastering Communication at Work explores the skills and formats required to encourage clear, two-way communication that has the impact you desire. The book’s author, Jon Wortmann, shares his perspectives and insights from the book in this video-based course.

Duration: 21 minutes of video lessons

The course covers:

  • Defining the Point of the Communication
  • Validating Others
  • Framing Conversations
  • Overcoming Defensiveness
  • Running Effective meetings
  • Making Impactful Presentations
  • Building a Culture of Communication

The target audience for this course is anyone who wants to be more influential and have more productive conversations and relationships with their colleagues. The value of this course to participants and the organization are:

  • Clearer communications that reduce confusion, conflict, and frustration
  • More productive meetings that result in faster decisions being made more efficiently
  • More impactful presentations that result in approval of recommendations more quickly

Jon Wortmann is a principal at thoughtLEADERS. He is an executive coach, trainer, and best-selling author of five books including Hijacked by Your Brain and Mindfulness is Sublime. He has delivered over 3,000 public workshops and trainings across a variety of industry sectors. In addition to corporate teams, he is the leadership trainer in multiple towns and school districts in New England. His writing has been featured in Fast Company, Psychology Today, O Magazine, and Elle. A graduate of Carleton College and Harvard University, he also coaches golfers in the NCAA and on the PGA Tour.

 

Demonstrating Executive Presence

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Leading from Your Best Self covers proven techniques for building self-confidence, making personal connections, and developing a powerful professional presence. The book’s author, Rob Salafia, shares his perspectives and insights from the book in this video-based course.

Duration: 23 minutes of video lessons

The course covers:

  • Discovering Your Best Self
  • The Art of Landing and Expanding
  • Developing Physical and Vocal Presence
  • The Arts of Transitions, Storytelling, and Influence
  • Making Great Presentations

The target audience for this course is anyone who wants to improve their executive presence and their ability to influence and inspire others. The value of this course to participants and the organization are:

  • A better sense of self which makes you more comfortable and compelling in front of others
  • Stronger influence skills which enables you to persuade others more effectively
  • A better ability to inspire others which can lead to improved organizational performance

Rob Salafia is a principal at thoughtLEADERS. He combines two decades of experience as a top leadership development executive with a well-established career in the performing arts. For the first half of his career Rob was a performing artist where he traveled the globe delivering his unique, one-person variety show. He studied the art of tap dance with Gregory Hines. Rob is a lecturer in the MIT Sloan School of Management and a member of the coaching cadres for MIT’s Sloan Fellows, AMP and EMBA Programs. He also cultivated a lasting partnership with Harvard Business School resulting in the integration of experiential programming within the Harvard MBA curriculum and Executive Education Leadership Programs serving thousands of global leaders. He’s the author of Leading from Your Best Self.

 

Making Compelling Recommendations

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Making a clear case for a proposal is about getting the right facts together to present them powerfully in a well-articulated story. The Elegant Pitch provides a straightforward process for building a compelling recommendation. The book’s author, Mike Figliuolo, shares his perspectives and insights from the book in this video-based course.

Duration: 20 minutes of video lessons

The course covers:

  • Generating a core idea
  • Structuring the argument for your recommendation
  • Crafting a compelling storyline
  • Gathering stakeholder input
  • Proving your hypothesis with data
  • Communicating your final recommendation

The target audience for this course is anyone who wants to make more compelling and convincing presentations and recommendations. The value of this course to participants and the organization are:

  • Less time spent on “junk” analysis and rework
  • Clearer and more compelling recommendations that get stakeholders to say “yes” on the first past
  • Accelerated decision making which leads to faster time to value

Mike Figliuolo is the founder and managing director of thoughtLEADERS. He is an internationally recognized author, trainer, speaker, and blogger on the topics of leadership, communications, strategy, decision-making, problem solving, and other critical business skills. An honor graduate from West Point, Mike served in the US Army as a combat arms officer. Before founding thoughtLEADERS, he was an assistant professor at Duke University, a consultant at McKinsey & Company, and an executive at Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is the author of three books: One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership, Lead Inside the Box: How Smart Leaders Guide Their Teams to Exceptional Results, and The Elegant Pitch: Create a Compelling Recommendation, Build Broad Support, and Get it Approved. Mike is also one of the most popular authors on LinkedIn Learning where he has published 30 courses that have been viewed millions of times by learners from around the world.

 

Being a Trusted Advisor

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Being a trusted advisor begins with listening well and requires the ability to coach, provide feedback, and navigate the organization. Learn all these skills to build a trusted advisor relationship.

Duration: 55 minutes of video lessons

The course covers:

  • Building listening skills
  • Creating a coaching environment
  • Giving and receiving feedback
  • Managing stakeholders

The target audience for this course consists of individuals who want to build strong, trust-based advisory relationships. Consultants and other service professionals will find it of particular interest. The value of this course to participants and the organization are:

  • Stronger relationships that that lead to faster development and longer partnerships
  • Faster behavior change through the delivery of more specific feedback
  • Improved identification of issues and opportunities through more careful listening

Sabrina Smith is a principal at thoughtLEADERS. She brings more than 20 years of leadership and training experience into the classroom. She’s led diverse teams at U.S. Cellular, Xerox, and DIRECTV/AT&T. She’s built and delivered coaching and training curricula across large networks of operational sites. Her experiences and her education in organizational leadership have helped her grow the next generation of leaders at every organization she’s worked for. She’s a graduate of Lewis University with a BA in Business Management and Organizational Leadership.

Mike Figliuolo is the founder and managing director of thoughtLEADERS. He is an internationally recognized author, trainer, speaker, and blogger on the topics of leadership, communications, strategy, decision-making, problem solving, and other critical business skills. An honor graduate from West Point, Mike served in the US Army as a combat arms officer. Before founding thoughtLEADERS, he was an assistant professor at Duke University, a consultant at McKinsey & Company, and an executive at Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is the author of three books: One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership, Lead Inside the Box: How Smart Leaders Guide Their Teams to Exceptional Results, and The Elegant Pitch: Create a Compelling Recommendation, Build Broad Support, and Get it Approved. Mike is also one of the most popular authors on LinkedIn Learning where he has published 30 courses that have been viewed millions of times by learners from around the world.

 

Master High-Stakes Communication

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When pitching ideas and trying to influence others in high-stakes situations, it’s important to take a deliberate approach to your communications if you want to get recommendations approved.

Duration: 24 minutes of video lessons

The course covers:

  • Understand the Audience and Their “Button”
  • Know the Players, Agendas, and How Decisions are Made
  • Get Input on Your Narrative
  • Let Others Think the Idea is Theirs
  • Bring the Right Facts to the Conversation

The target audience for this course is anyone who has to communicate and influence others in high-stakes situations. The value of this course to participants and the organization are:

  • Faster approval ideas leading to shorter time to impact
  • Quicker approval processes which saves time and effort

Mike Figliuolo is the founder and managing director of thoughtLEADERS. He is an internationally recognized author, trainer, speaker, and blogger on the topics of leadership, communications, strategy, decision-making, problem solving, and other critical business skills. An honor graduate from West Point, Mike served in the US Army as a combat arms officer. Before founding thoughtLEADERS, he was an assistant professor at Duke University, a consultant at McKinsey & Company, and an executive at Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is the author of three books: One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership, Lead Inside the Box: How Smart Leaders Guide Their Teams to Exceptional Results, and The Elegant Pitch: Create a Compelling Recommendation, Build Broad Support, and Get it Approved. Mike is also one of the most popular authors on LinkedIn Learning where he has published 30 courses that have been viewed millions of times by learners from around the world.

 

Communicating Bad News

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Bad news happens all the time, but how it’s received depends upon how it’s delivered. Learn how to deliver bad news in a way that minimizes risks and takes care of people.

Duration: 21 minutes of video lessons

The course covers:

  • Defining Bad News
  • Key Risks in Communicating Bad News
  • Keys to Sharing Bad News
  • Managing the Communication of Bad News
  • Being the Messenger of Bad News

The target audience for this course consists of leaders who need to communicate bad or difficult news to their organizations and teams. The value of this course to participants and the organization are:

  • The maintenance of trust during difficult times
  • Improved credibility and productivity after bad news is delivered
  • Stronger relationships between leaders and teams because they know the leader is being forthright, honest, and empathetic

Gary Ross has coached corporate leaders for more than 25 years on communicating effectively and managing through change. Equally adept at working with FORTUNE 500 companies and small non-profits, he partners with CEOs, VPs and new leaders to help them communicate their vision, engage teams and position their organizations for success. Gary led corporate communications departments at three major corporations: Fortune Brands, CDW, and Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Beginning his career as a journalist, he was a reporter and substitute anchor for WCBD-TV in Charleston, SC, where he was nominated for an Emmy Award in investigative journalism. Gary is a principal here at thoughtLEADERS and is our primary expert on change management.

 

Bridging Introverts and Extroverts

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See moreIntroverts and extroverts have different preferences and tendencies that have to be accounted for and adjusted to in many situations. Learn how to adapt your style accordingly.

Duration: 18 minutes of video lessons

The course covers:

  • Understanding Introversion Versus Extroversion
  • How Extroverts can Work Better with Introverts
  • How Introverts can Work Better with Extroverts
  • Job Success for Introverts and Extroverts
  • Managing Introverts and Extroverts

The target audience for this course consists of anyone who wants to work more effectively with colleagues, managers, and team members who have different preferences as they relate to introversion or extroversion. The value of this course to participants and the organization are:

  • Improved communication between team members which improves collaboration and performance
  • Reduced conflict and friction due to interpersonal styles which improves efficiency and morale

Mike Lynn has been helping people learn for 25 years. His experiences span informal and formal training, extensive delivery and facilitation, one-on-one coaching, virtual learning and training management. He has run the training function for a 300 person global consulting firm, served as the local office learning manager for the Midwest office of McKinsey & Company, trained extensively on professional skills, communications, and problem solving. He served numerous clients in an individual coaching capacity. At McKinsey & Company he focused on training and individual coaching on a wide range of communications topics, and then broadened his role to focus on problem-solving skills, management, team development, and MBTI. Mike was responsible for leading training programs for new consultants and engagement managers. Mike is a principal at thoughtLEADERS where he leads training on communications, chart design, problem solving, and executive presence.

 

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

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Conflict can be positive if it’s dealt with productively and resolved effectively. Learn how to effectively overcome conflict and build relationships in the process of doing so.

Duration: 25 minutes of video lessons

The course covers:

  • Using Attitude to Resolve Conflict
  • Recognizing Your Level of Conflict Aversion
  • Turning Reaction into Presence
  • Creating the Safe Space Essential to Resolution
  • Applying the Urgency Versus Importance Formula

The target audience for this course consists of anyone who deals with conflict on a daily basis. The value of this course to participants and the organization are:

  • Stronger trust-based relationships that reduce conflict and improve collaboration
  • Less friction at work that helps teams be more productive and creates a healthier work environment

Jon Wortmann is a principal at thoughtLEADERS. He is an executive coach, trainer, and best-selling author of five books including Hijacked by Your Brain and Mindfulness is Sublime. He has delivered over 3,000 public workshops and trainings across a variety of industry sectors. In addition to corporate teams, he is the leadership trainer in multiple towns and school districts in New England. His writing has been featured in Fast Company, Psychology Today, O Magazine, and Elle. A graduate of Carleton College and Harvard University, he also coaches golfers in the NCAA and on the PGA Tour.

 

Listening to Get Results

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Listening is more than hearing someone. It’s about finding meaning in what they’re saying and what they’re not. Being a better listener helps you connect with others and build relationships.

Duration: 25 minutes of video lessons

The course covers:

  • What is Listening?
  • Listening With Self-Confidence
  • Listening With Integrity
  • Listening for Their Perspective
  • Listening Like a Coach

The target audience for this course consists of individuals who want to do a better job of leading, building relationships, and understanding others. The value of this course to participants and the organization are:

  • Stronger relationships that reduce conflict and improve collaboration
  • A higher sense of belonging because people are truly being heard
  • More effective teams that care about one another because they understand one another

Sabrina Smith is a principal at thoughtLEADERS. She brings more than 20 years of leadership and training experience into the classroom. She’s led diverse teams at U.S. Cellular, Xerox, and DIRECTV/AT&T. She’s built and delivered coaching and training curricula across large networks of operational sites. Her experiences and her education in organizational leadership have helped her grow the next generation of leaders at every organization she’s worked for. She’s a graduate of Lewis University with a BA in Business Management and Organizational Leadership.

 

Adjusting Your Interpersonal Style

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Understanding people’s interpersonal styles and adjusting yours accordingly makes for better relationships, improved team dynamics, and enhanced performance.

Duration: 27 minutes of video lessons

The course covers:

  • Aspects of Interpersonal Style
  • Adjusting Style in Meetings
  • Adjusting Style in Problem Solving
  • Adjusting Style in Conflicts
  • Adjusting Style in Managing Projects
  • Adjusting Style with Team Members
  • Adjusting Style with Your Manager

The target audience for this course consists of anyone who has to interact with and influence people whose style differs from their own in any number of ways. The value of this course to participants and the organization are:

  • More productive relationships which boost satisfaction and performance
  • Better team dynamics which lead to improved productivity and morale
  • Less conflict and more camaraderie on your teams

Mike Lynn has been helping people learn for 25 years. His experiences span informal and formal training, extensive delivery and facilitation, one-on-one coaching, virtual learning and training management. He has run the training function for a 300 person global consulting firm, served as the local office learning manager for the Midwest office of McKinsey & Company, trained extensively on professional skills, communications, and problem solving. He served numerous clients in an individual coaching capacity. At McKinsey & Company he focused on training and individual coaching on a wide range of communications topics, and then broadened his role to focus on problem-solving skills, management, team development, and MBTI. Mike was responsible for leading training programs for new consultants and engagement managers. Mike is a principal at thoughtLEADERS where he leads training on communications, chart design, problem solving, and executive presence.

 

Everything is Negotiable

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Become a better negotiator in all situations – from day to day interactions to hammering out large deals. Build the skills required to get what you want and strengthen relationships while you do.

Duration: 2 hours (Approximately 80 minutes of video lessons and 40 minutes of exercises)

Whether negotiating a major contract or just trying to get a day off from work, negotiation skills are a critical component of our daily lives. Improving your negotiation skills will help you get what you want more frequently and help you build better relationships with coworkers, bosses, business partners, and suppliers. Participants learn how to do this through the application of simple yet effective negotiating skills and tools.

This course covers:

  • The five major phases of the negotiating cycle
  • How to assess the context within which the negotiation will occur
  • What data to gather and how to use it for successful negotiations
  • How to conduct scenario planning using different negotiating styles, positions, and concessions
  • How to negotiate using proper techniques and how to avoid common pitfalls
  • How to measure negotiating success and adjust for future negotiations

The course consists of instructor-introduced concepts, practical application exercises, and supporting materials. The course includes:

  • Extensive instructor videos to guide you through the content
  • A downloadable course guide of slides to help you follow the instruction
  • A downloadable workbook to apply the method as you take the course
  • Exercises, quizzes, and case examples to help you apply these methods as you learn them

The target audience for this course consists of individuals who routinely participate in negotiations both large and small. This course isn’t just for procurement folks, salespeople, or deal-makers – anyone who wants to get better at getting what they want can benefit from the tools and techniques taught in this course. The value of this course to the participants and to the organization as a whole are:

  • Higher negotiation success rates when negotiating with external parties
  • Higher likelihood of getting what you want while strengthening relationships in the process
  • Faster negotiating cycles leading to shorter sales cycles and faster accrual of benefit

Mike Figliuolo is the founder and managing director of thoughtLEADERS. He is an internationally recognized author, trainer, speaker, and blogger on the topics of leadership, communications, strategy, decision-making, problem solving, and other critical business skills. An honor graduate from West Point, Mike served in the US Army as a combat arms officer. Before founding thoughtLEADERS, he was an assistant professor at Duke University, a consultant at McKinsey & Company, and an executive at Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is the author of three books: One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership, Lead Inside the Box: How Smart Leaders Guide Their Teams to Exceptional Results, and The Elegant Pitch: Create a Compelling Recommendation, Build Broad Support, and Get it Approved. Mike is also one of the most popular authors on LinkedIn Learning where he has published 30 courses that have been viewed millions of times by learners from around the world.

 

Compelling Executive Presence

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Build your ability to connect with your audience and convey your ideas in a clear and resonant way. Create meaningful connections between you and your audience to build momentum and buy-in.

Duration: 2.5 hours (Approximately 90 minutes of video lessons and 60 minutes of exercises)

Compelling executive presence relies upon your ability to connect with your audience and convey your ideas in a clear and resonant way. This course teaches you how to create meaningful connections between you and your audience. The tools and techniques covered in class help you be more authentic and comfortable in a variety of situations.

In this course, you’ll learn and apply an integrated framework covering all aspects of executive presence. The course covers:

  • Techniques for getting present in the moment
  • Ways to help you more easily be your authentic self
  • Tools and techniques for connecting with your audience
  • Approaches for getting your audience to connect with your content
  • Methods for getting momentum for your ideas

Throughout the course, you’ll be introduced to concepts and techniques for being more authentic, connecting more effectively with your audience, and being more comfortable in front of audiences from 1 to 1,000.

The course consists of instructor-introduced concepts, practical application exercises, and supporting materials.

The target audience for this course is any manager, senior leader, or executive looking to learn more than clichéd “do this/don’t do that” presentation platform skills to focus on the true techniques required for demonstrating executive presence: getting present, getting authentic, getting connected, and getting momentum. The course benefits are:

  • More compelling leadership presence and personal brand
  • An improved ability to achieve audience buy-in
  • An expanded toolkit to connect audiences to content
  • Increased audience involvement and support for your ideas

Mike Lynn has been helping people learn for 25 years. His experiences span informal and formal training, extensive delivery and facilitation, one-on-one coaching, virtual learning and training management. He has run the training function for a 300 person global consulting firm, served as the local office learning manager for the Midwest office of McKinsey & Company, trained extensively on professional skills, communications, and problem solving. He served numerous clients in an individual coaching capacity. At McKinsey & Company he focused on training and individual coaching on a wide range of communications topics, and then broadened his role to focus on problem-solving skills, management, team development, and MBTI. Mike was responsible for leading training programs for new consultants and engagement managers. Mike is a principal at thoughtLEADERS where he leads training on communications, chart design, problem solving, and executive presence.

Rob Salafia combines decades of experience as a top leadership development executive with a well-established career in the performing arts. He helps leaders build emotional and narrative intelligence and share vision and strategy in a compelling and relevant way. He’s the author of Leading from Your Best Self. For the first half of his career Rob was a performing artist where he traveled the globe delivering his unique, one-person variety show. Rob is a lecturer in the MIT Sloan School of Management and a member of the coaching cadres for MIT’s Sloan Fellows, AMP and EMBA Programs. He also cultivated a lasting partnership with Harvard Business School resulting in the integration of experiential programming within the Harvard MBA curriculum and Executive Education Leadership Programs serving thousands of global leaders. Rob is a principal at thoughtLEADERS where he leads training on executive presence.