Practical Project: Communication Skills for Effective Teamwork 4219-PP109
Interactive workshop with pair & group work and in-depth individual exercises. Te focus of the workshop is to develop communication skills (e.g. active listening, direct communication, non-verbal communication, communicating directly and clearly, giving and receiving feedback etc.) and organizational competences (creating a strategy and implementation plan for a project(discussion), project evaluation).
I INTRODUCTORY SESSION: COMMUNICATION & ME
– VUCA times, competences of the future and the role of soft skills in a changing reality.
– The role of stereotypes and cultural patterns in interpersonal communication.
Interpersonal communication training: active listening, paraphrasing, summarizing.
– Analysis of individual communication style and its benefits and areas for development.
– Brainstorming and selection of topic areas for discussion.
II. STRATEGY SESSION: COOPERATION & ME
– What is cooperation and what do we need to collaborate?
– The role of psychological safety in the context of building commitment and effectiveness,
– SCARF model-D. Rock
– Stress - how does it affect our communication?
– The role of emotional regulation in enhancing communication
– Emotions - what they are and how to use the information they bring?
– Selecting the topic, experts + topic areas for the discussion, group collaboration and division of responsibilities (who?what?when?).
III. PRACTICAL SESSION: ASSERTIVENESS & ME
– Assertiveness
– Assertive rights.
– Separating facts from interpretations.
– How to identify your needs/interests.
– How to express requests and expectations in an assertive way?
IV. PRACTICAL SESSION: PANEL DISCUSSION
– Conducting a project (discussion with experts/practitioners on the role of communication in the work environment).
V. CONCLUDING SESSION: EVALUATION
– Communication skills training cont. (direct communication, clarity and self-expression).
– Evaluation of the project (team and individual context).
– The art of giving (and receiving) feedback.
– Creating an individual development plan. (STOP-START-CONTINUE)
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE:
The student:
- knows what are: verbal and non-verbal communication & active listening,
- has basic knowledge on the use of communication styles in teamwork,
- has analyzed their own communication style and its influence on team effectiveness,
- is familiar with the SCARF model and knows what psychological safety is in the context of effective teamwork,
- is able to define conflict, distinguish between internal and interpersonal conflict, knows at least two models of giving feedback.
SKILLS:
The student:
- is able to interact and work in a project team,
- is able to communicate effectively in a team,
- took an active part in organizing a panel discussion, - developed the ability to think strategically, took part in strategy-making, priority-setting, action planning and project evaluation,
- practiced selected elements of communication affecting trust and confidence building, i.e. active listening, paraphrasing, asking open-ended questions to expand and clarify, summarizing, sharing observations, giving feedback,
- planned individual activities to support the development of soft competencies (i.e. teamwork, communication skills, giving feedback).
SOCIAL COMPETENCES:
The student:
- has broadened and deepened their awareness of own communication style and its influence on team effectiveness,
- developed communication skills in listening, direct communication, and giving feedback,
- has learnt about selected good practices used in working with teams in organizations and has broadened their knowledge of business culture,
- is aware of the role of stress and emotions in teamwork,
- has developed the ability to interact with others in a team framework, taking into account the diversity and individual potential of other people in a team.
Assessment criteria
attendance* (60%), 15 min oral presentation (15%) and carrying out the project (25%)
* up to 2 absences possible (up to 4h)
Bibliography
Rock, D. „Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long”, Harper Business
Brown, B., (2018), "Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.", London: Vermilion.
Huston, T. (2021), „Let’s Talk: Make Effective Feedback Your Superpower”, Penguin Books.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: