Whether people recognize it or not, having strong communication skills is crucial to personal and professional success—and in this age of electronic communication, communicating and interacting with others effectively has never been more important. Through the exchange of information, people are able to build trust and respect, align their actions, execute plans and strategies, and ultimately drive bottom-line performance. Yet, despite the importance of being able to communicate well, people at all levels of the business often lack this critical skill set.

CMOE’s Communication Training for Managers workshop focuses on helping participants develop fundamental communication skills, the building blocks of mutually beneficial relationships. Our workshop is unique because it can be targeted to leaders or individual contributors, which provides the organization with a shared framework for communication. The workshop assists participants in developing the confidence and competence they need to communicate with ease, influence others to achieve desired results, and have a lasting impact on the people around them.

I had low expectations but was pleasantly surprised. This training was unlike any other I've done. It helped me understand my leadership and communication styles, greatly enhancing team collaboration. Would give 6 stars if I could! — Justina Amerson

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Objectives and Outcomes

Imagine the results that would be generated if everyone in your organization communicated even a little bit more effectively: reduced confusion, less frustration, better alignment, problems averted—the list goes on and on. After attending the Communication Training workshop, participants are able to do the following:

  • Effectively use questions to open up dialogue and obtain needed information.
  • Identify barriers that can disrupt the ability to effectively communicate with others.
  • Use non-verbal forms of communication to increase the clarity of the message.
  • Apply active-listening skills in all types of interactions.
  • Use a step-by-step process for successful communication.
  • Facilitate emotionally difficult communication and feedback sessions.
  • Adapt to other communication styles in order to establish rapport, build trust, and strengthen teams.

Our Approach

There are countless communication-skills workshops on the market. What makes CMOE’s Communication Training workshop special is that we focus on skill development and practical application; participants return to their work with tools and skills they can immediately apply to their personal interactions with others. The workshop not only focuses on how to articulate clear messages, but also on how communication skills can be used to build relationships, influence others to achieve results, and create greater alignment and transparency in the organization. We use the following design elements to make the workshop engaging and skill-driven:

  • Case studies
  • Simulations
  • Peer feedback
  • Assessments
  • Models and frameworks
  • Tools
  • Self-reflection
  • Action-planning

CMOE also offers customization services to ensure that the learning experience is tailored to the specific needs of the audience and organization. Our highly experienced facilitators are able to model the skills and provide constructive feedback and coaching to participants as they begin the discovery process.

“Communication is a process that involves sending, receiving, and interpreting messages. Effective communication occurs when the receiver interprets the message (verbal or non-verbal) the way the sender intended. Generally, communication is aimed at influencing the behavior of another person.”

~ Steven J. Stowell, Ph.D., Communication Skills Workshop

“New habits that foster open-mindedness can be developed. However, collaboration and cooperation don’t happen automatically as competitive habits decrease. They are forms of discourse that rely deeply on one’s willingness to act in trust-building ways.”

~ Steven J. Stowell, Ph.D., Communication Skills Workshop
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Delivery Options

In order to meet the specific needs of each client we partner with and make the most of the learning and development investment, CMOE offers programs in the following formats and lengths:

Instructor-led training (delivered onsite by a CMOE subject matter expert/facilitator)

Digital learning program (self-paced or live)

Blended and layered solution (combining instructor-led training and digital learning)

Train the trainer services (certifying internal trainers in CMOE’s world-class programs)

Curriculum integration (deliver the topic in conjunction with another topic or event or build it into a development curriculum)

4-16 hours (8 hours preferred) for instructor-led variable for digital learning

Contact a CMOE Client Services Specialist to discuss a targeted solution that is right for your organization.

Looking for an online approach?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Leadership Communication Skills?

Leadership communication skills involve communication practices that aim to develop strong teams, shared understanding, a common purpose, and sense of belonging among team members. Leaders must demonstrate good communication skills to foster better relationships and encourage their team to put their best foot forward.

For leaders, communication skills are about more than enhancing your organization’s bottom line; successful communication:

  • Creates a positive employee experience.
  • Fosters trust.
  • Allows team members to successfully navigate through organizational change.

Here are the six essential communication skills for leaders:

  • Adapting to different communication styles. Each team member has a different communication style. Leaders should learn what the styles of each of their team members are and be able and willing to adapt to them. Moreover, they should assess whether the combined styles of the team pose any challenges and how the team members’ individual strengths can be leveraged.
  • Active listening. Listening does not come naturally to most people. It requires willingness, practice, and patience. Active listening involves being focused only on the speaker, giving team members the opportunity to express their viewpoints, acknowledging underlying issues and emotions, and more. To successfully achieve these practices, leaders must display the proper body language, stay focused, eliminate distractions, maintain eye contact, and ask follow-up questions.
  • Transparency. The goal of transparency is to actively share essential organizational information and issues with team members. Leaders must nurture a culture that values speaking openly about the organization’s goals, challenges, and opportunities. This transparency can help drive trust, confidence, and productivity among teams. Keep in mind that even though leaders should encourage open communication, they should also understand where to draw the line and practice confidentiality when appropriate.
  • Clarity. Team members must have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. It is the leader’s responsibility to ensure that each employee’s tasks are well-defined and that their deadlines are clearly understood. If a team member is having difficulty understanding his or her responsibilities, leaders should be able to offer examples and further guidance. If leaders do not have the answers to an employee’s questions, they should know who to reach out to in order to acquire the information they need.
  • Empathy. Good leaders demonstrate empathy. They know how to approach their team members in a courteous and caring manner. Empathetic leaders acknowledge the feelings and experiences of their team members. Not only does this show respect, it also helps team members feel valued. Leaders who struggle with empathy must mitigate their egos and step into another person’s shoes. This can help them perceive and appreciate others’ points of view.
  • Feedback. Fostering an environment where constructive feedback is expected and encouraged helps spur ongoing learning and development for employees at all levels. Instead of simply initiating annual performance reviews, incorporating real-time feedback—smaller, on-the-spot coaching sessions—allows leaders to reward and correct behavior sooner rather than later. In addition, real-time feedback gives leaders the opportunity to hone their coaching skills, make progress on their own opportunities for improvement, and grow into well-rounded leaders.

Communicating effectively is often easier said than done, and there are some barriers that make communication especially difficult in the workplace.

Here are four common types of communication barriers:

  • Poor listening skills. A lack of attention and failure to eliminate distractions can make leaders seem apathetic toward a team member’s thoughts and ideas.
  • Differences in perceptions. Cultural and personal differences can create disagreements that can cause tension if not handled properly.
  • Complicated or unfamiliar terminology. This may involve language or departmental barriers (i.e., departments may use acronyms and jargon other teams will not understand). If individuals do not take the time to explain the terminology they are using, this can alienate teams and individuals and prevent cross-functional or interdepartmental collaboration.
  • Failure to understand non-verbal cues or gestures. Non-verbal cues (sitting up straight, facing the individual you are speaking to, making eye contact, nodding as a person talks, etc.) help create a safe environment for having honest conversations. An absence of these gestures can cause confusion among individuals and inhibit their ability to have productive conversations.

The path to improving communication skills requires learning effective communication techniques (active listening, transparency, empathy, etc.) and taking time to practice those skills.

CMOE’s workshop on communication training for leaders is a great place to start. Our approach focuses on practical application so you can return to work with the tools and skills you need to further develop your ability to become a more effective communicator in the workplace.

In addition to learning and practicing key communication leadership skills, there are other ways leaders can improve their abilities.

Here are three components leaders should focus on:

  • Create authenticity. Authenticity matters, and team members will follow leaders who are genuine. Leaders should find their voice and be themselves—and they should encourage their team members to do the same. This openness can help leaders and team members build more-meaningful relationships with one another and find ways that each person can contribute their unique strengths to the team.
  • Take note of each person’s communication style. Since every person is different, leaders should identify ways to better communicate with their team members depending on the style that suits them best. For instance, while one person might absorb information best through email or chat, another person may find more value in a face-to-face discussion.
  • Offer acknowledgment. Communication is a two-way street. Leaders should pause after someone speaks and restate what they heard. Paraphrasing is a core component of active listening, allows leaders to show that they are paying attention, and provides employees with an opportunity to make corrections and confirm what they are trying to communicate. This results in conversations that are more valuable and productive. In addition, using this process can help you assess the emotions behind what is being said and get to know your employee better, helping you to overcome any communication barriers that may exist.

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