You may have noticed that almost all of our management courses include a module on communication skills.
That’s because communication skills are among the most important that a manager can master.
Why so important?
Every interaction you have in your working life relies on good communication.
Whether you’re having a 1-to-1 with a member of your team, a weekly team meeting, checking in with executive leadership, or speaking with a client, your communication skills are foundational to a good outcome.
What are communication skills?
When we think of “communication”, it’s likely that talking springs to mind first.
Although how you speak and what you say is important, there is so much more to communication skills than conversation.
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Listening Skills
You’ve probably heard about avoiding the trap of simply waiting to speak, rather than listening.
It can be difficult at times. When you’re busy and you want to get to the point. When you are fired up about an issue. What you are having trouble getting your message across.
Mastering active listening skills can help you in all of the above situations and open up a whole new area of ideas, collaboration, and problem-solving.
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Questioning Skills
Often, when you’re having difficulty getting the right information, a well-placed question can make all the difference.
There is a craft to understanding which questions get the best results and learning how to ask the right questions. Understanding this craft can add to your efficiency within your management role.
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Written Communication
It’s so easy to misinterpret the tone or meaning of an email. Good communication includes that which we use when writing any business document (emails, memos, reports, letters, social media posts and interactions, etc.).
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Assertiveness
There is a fine line between being assertive and being aggressive. It’s one that all managers must be aware of and avoid crossing over.
However, being assertive is sometimes important for managers. It’s essential that you can stand your ground when required.
Not to mention, when things get hairy…
Tackling tricky conversations is another area of communication that is important for managers.
Even in the most well-suited, productive teams, you’ll come up against difficult situations when you encounter:
- conflict between team members
- under-performance
- de-motivation
As a manager, you’ll need to have the right skills at your fingertips to tackle these challenging conversations in a professional and empathetic way.
Brushing Up Your Communication Skills
It’s not understating it to say that possessing awareness and good communication skills can mean the difference between things running smoothly and utter chaos!
Although we can all communicate, you’ll see from the list above that in order to perform at the top of their game, managers need to fine tune their skills.
Our QQI People Management and Management Skills courses are excellent options for strengthening your communication skills.
QQI People Management: 3 Days – Practical Skills + Certification
This popular course will equip you with a broad spectrum of management skills to suit any situation.
In addition to a focused module on Communication Skills, you’ll cover:
- Motivational techniques
- Organisational Skills
- Managing Performance
- Handling Difficult Situations
- Coaching Your Team
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Understanding Workplace Legislation
Learn more about QQI People Management
Management Coaching Course – 4 Days – Practical Skills + Certification
This 4-day course is a superb choice for managers who want to learn how to coach members of their team effectively.
Modules covered during this course:
- Understanding Coaching & the role of a Coach
- Coaching Tools
- Essential Coaching Skills
- Goal Setting and Action Planning
Learn more about Management Skills
Get Advice & Get Started
Both of these courses cover the same Communication & Assertiveness module. They also both incorporate Performance Management and Handling Difficult Situations – key supporting communication skills.
QQI People Management also focuses on Coaching Your Team, a fantastic area for managers to discover the best ways to mentor their teams.
If you’re unsure about which course best fits your needs, we can help.
Call our training consultants at Freephone 1800 910 810 during office hours, or use the “Ask a Question” button below to contact us online at any time.
