Communications Skills for Leaders
The ability to communicate effectively in business makes the critical difference in implementing decisions, satisfying customers, and motivating a team. This program provides participants with the skills to develop more confidence in writing and speech, plan oral and written business presentations, organize business presentations to give them clarity and clout, and deliver oral and written presentations in a more interesting, appealing, and persuasive manner.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
- Develop more confidence in writing and speech
- Plan oral and written business presentations that get positive results
- Organize your business presentations to give them clarity and clout
- Deliver oral and written presentations in a more interesting, appealing, and persuasive manner through clearer, more concise, more vivid language
Day 1
Professional Oral Presentations
Getting on Your Feet and Liking It
- Getting your butterflies to fly in formation: dealing well with symptoms of nervousness
- Planning effective oral presentations
- Preparing well: the key to confidence and control
Delivering Like a Pro!
- Developing an effective speaking voice
- Using gestures and movement for emphasis
- Using visual aids well
- Practicing oral presentations in small groups; debriefing results
Day 2
Professional Business Writing
Characteristics of Effective Contemporary Business Communications
- Conveying the "you" attitude
- Defining your ethos
Planning and Organizing Written Communications
- Determining purpose, audience, structure, and style
- Opening and closing well
- Critiquing real-world business letters, e-mail, and memos
Organizing Materials for Clarity and Clout
- Structuring documents for multiple audiences
- Using vertical formatting
- Critiquing the structures of real-word reports
Principles of Persuasion
- Aristotle’s pyramid of persuasion
- The contrast effect
- Benefits versus features
- The power of getting commitment
Day 3
Professional Oral Presentations
- Dealing effectively with questions
- Selecting persuasive, vivid language
Professional Business Writing
- Improving the tone and ethos conveyed through your communications
- Conveying the “you” attitude
Faculty
Buck Joseph, Ed.D.
Professor Emeritus of Management, Wisconsin School of Business
Since 1973, Buck has taught undergraduate, graduate and continuing education courses in English, adult education, and managerial-leadership development. He regularly teaches Business Communications in the Executive MBA program of the School of Business. A nationally recognized researcher and writer, he co-authored the text Leadership and Vision, published by New York Times in 1999. Speaking to over 150 conferences on leadership, teamwork, motivation, and communications throughout the United States and the world since 1982, he has established a reputation as an engaging, thought-provoking presenter. Buck is dedicated to helping people grow in their abilities to communicate, lead, and manage in their professional and personal lives. He earned his doctorate in adult education from North Carolina State University.