Upcoming Workshops: For the dates, times, locations, cost and registration information for upcoming workshops click Upcoming Events. 

Business is conducted as a rough-and-tumble sport with its own set of rules that often remain unspoken. Unfortunately, what you don't know can hurt you!

This four-hour workshop teaches you 45 of the key "rules" that govern communication at work and how to apply them. These rules are not taught in school, often remain unspoken in the workplace, and usually have to be learned through years of painful experience. In the workplace you are expected to know and observe these rules. You're judged by how well you apply them and suffer the consequences of not following them, even though you may never be told explicitly what you did wrong.

This workshop teaches you the rules along with a model for how and when to apply them so that you can immediately begin to reap the positive benefits of effective communication and avoid serious communications blunders. You will learn how to communicate effectively and confidently in your work environment, regardless of your occupation or the size of your work organization.

What You Will Learn

1. Why learning the "language of the workplace" is absolutely essential
   
   
2. Forty-five key communication "rules" that cover:
   • Effective verbal (i.e., written and oral) communication
   • The nuances of non-verbal communication (e.g., expression, tone, appearance and gesture)
   • How to communicate effectively in meetings, within teams, and in leadership roles
     
     
3. When and how to apply the rules
   
   
4. How to obtain your professional goals through effective communication
   
   
5. Your personal communication style and how it affects your communication
   
   
6. How your personal values affect your communication
   
   
7. How to be confident in your workplace communications
   
   
8. How gender differences can affect how the rules apply
   

Here are just some of the things you will walk away knowing:

• How to ask for what you want (e.g., more money, a promotion) in a way that maximizes your ability to get it
  
  
• How to gain respect and be appropriately assertive
  
  
• How to respond to conflict and confrontation
  
  
• How to recognize and use power tools and techniques
  
  
• How to prevent your unconscious non-verbal communications from undermining your credibility
  
  
• What to do when someone yells at you
  
  
• How to create power by the way you talk
  
  
• How to maintain a powerful presence even under pressure
  
  
• When to "put it in writing" and when not to
  
  
• How to speak so that others hear you and "get" what you are trying to say, without becoming defensive
  
  
• How your personal communication style affects your ability to get ahead
  
  
• A key difference between male and female styles of communication that almost no one is aware of
  
  
• Two things your should never ask and never say
  
  

As a graduate of this class you will receive a free 30-minute follow up one-on-one telephone coaching session where you can ask questions that come up as you begin to apply what you learned in the workshop within the context of your job. You may call to schedule your individual coaching session anytime within three months of the date you attend the class.

"Last year I was negotiating with my boss for a raise, and thought I had the perfect argument - that my coworker who had a similar position to mine was making more money than I was. I never did get the raise. Now I understand why the argument I used was a very weak one and I have a much better one to use this year!"

"Whenever I got in a disagreement with someone in the past, I always found it difficult to let go of the anger. Now I know 'when its over, its over', and why it's important to let it go." 

"I can now see how many of the things I do unconsciously communicate my insecurity and nervousness to others."

"I have been a manager for twenty years and until today I never realized how my avoidance of direct confrontation has been hurting my career." 

"I learned some great techniques for resolving conflict in a positive way!"

"I have a better perspective of how I am being viewed and judged in my job." 

"One of the most valuable things I learned was how not to take negative communication personally." 

"Now I know why other people are always getting credit for my ideas! Just recently I was in an important meeting and offered what I thought was a great solution to a problem we were having. No one responded or even acknowledged what I said. Then five minutes later someone else said basically the same thing and everyone thought it was a great idea. Now I know why this happened!"

"I loved learning the six-step model for what to do when someone yells at me or says or does something inappropriate. I am going to use this same technique at home with my husband and with my kids!"

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