Effective Communication

Webinars

Talking About Grief In The Workplace

Instructor: Taylor Williams

Grief is a very normal and common emotion, but it is largely misunderstood. If we normalize grief and grieving, it is possible to have more empathic and meaningful conversations about various forms of loss in the workplace.

After the global experience of Covid-19, it’s a safe assumption that everyone has experienced some form of grief: the loss of a loved one or their own health, a loss of identity, time, certainty, safety, etc. Grief is exceptionally common right now, but most people are unaware, or unable to identify the emotion.

Engaging with a Virtual Audience

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Instructor: Kara Wight & Irma Alvarez

Communicating virtually (whether presenting, participating in a meeting, leading a class or facilitating a conversation) brings with it a unique set of challenges. A strong virtual presence allows you to engage and build credibility with your audience. In this webinar we’ll share keys to connect with people with authenticity so you can achieve your purpose to inspire, influence and include across the virtual divide.

Can You Hear Me Now? Using Streaming Video & Web Conferencing to Enhance Engagement

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Instructor: Dustin Howard & Brandon Telg

In our ever-changing work environments, we are confronting new communication challenges that require new technological answers. “Can You Hear Me Now,” presented in association with UF IT’s Video & Collaboration Services, will present you with a basic walkthrough of two streaming communication tools: Mediasite and Zoom. Learn how to engage your team using video technology in this webinar.

Setting Boundaries for Returning to Work

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Instructor: Kara Wight

As we prepare to return to campus, there may be some new boundaries that we have to draw to feel comfortable in our new environment. This webinar is designed to help you identify, communicate, and enforce boundaries in a professional setting.

Accountability for the Virtual Workplace

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Instructor: Tricia Bachus

This webinar is for managers who want to know how to achieve a culture of accountability whether in a virtual or co-located workforce. Having a team who can work from home and still stay productive, optimistic, and deliver on expectations is what will drive success.

Courses

BCC010 Communication Confidence

Instructor: Ronda Mitchell

Most of us think we’re good communicators. Listening and talking are things we engage in all the time, so we assume we do it well. Unfortunately, that’s often not the case. Attend “Communication Confidence” to learn a number of skills and tools to improve the way you communicate with others. Behind these skills are these fundamental concepts:

We all can be better communicators
By understanding what makes communicating difficult, we can improve
By using certain tools and skills, we can counteract the difficulties

BCC020 Now Hear This: Listening, Comprehending, Communicating

Instructor: Sarah Hanson

Did you know that as much as 40% of the average workday is spent listening to others? That’s close to half of your day! Isn’t it time, therefore, to stop and make sure you’re using your time to its greatest advantage? Take a few moments and ask yourself: Are you an effective listener? How often do you assess your listening skills? Could you improve? That’s where “Now Hear This” can help. In this workshop, we’ll:

Define “listening” and how it impacts your work.
Recognize and deal with the barriers between listener and speaker.
Practice good listening techniques and identify ways to make them work for you.

Effective communication does not happen by chance; it requires practice and good technique.

BCC030 Communicate Assertively

Instructors: Verlissa Ford

Assertiveness is a skill you can acquire, not a personality trait that some people are born with and others are not. When we communicate assertively, we express our feelings, thoughts, and wishes–standing up for our legitimate rights without violating the rights of others. In this workshop, you’ll learn to: Distinguish between assertive, aggressive, and non-assertive (or passive) behaviors. Include the three parts of an assertive message in your communication approach. Listen assertively by concentrating your attention on the other person. Respond appropriately to criticism Building on the topics discussed in “Communication Confidence,” this workshop highlights communication skills that are essential in many day-to-day situations. Improve your relationships and personal effectiveness at work and at home: Attend “Communicate Assertively!”

TRV050 Create Presentation Visuals Worthy of the TED Stage

Instructor: Brandon Telg

Imagine you are giving the best presentation of your career. Your verbal delivery is captivating and masterfully choreographed with slide visuals and props that are attention grabbing, easy to understand, and even moving. This is what it means to use presentation visuals in a way that is “worthy of the TED stage.” In this course, participants will learn about the common mistakes presenters make with their presentation visuals, gain insights into the way the human brain best processes information while experiencing a presentation, leverage visual techniques for making your content resonate and stick, use next-level techniques to plan a visual presentation, analyze examples from some of the world’s best presenters, and apply key design principles. This course is helpful for both novice and even highly seasoned presenters. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop to this session to engage in hands-on design work activities in small groups.

BCC060 Email Effectiveness

Instructor: Dianne Matheis

Do you control your email or does your email control you? Is email the best communication tool? Most of us spend a good part of our day using this powerful medium. Often we sort through emails with content that would have been better communicated via the phone, in-person, in a chat or in a virtual meeting. Attend this interactive session to master how to select the best communication method for your message, review email etiquette, and learn to combine email best practices with the tools in the Microsoft Outlook desktop version in order to turn email into a valuable productivity tool.

BCC070 Grammar Game

Instructor: Brandon Telg

Can business grammar be fun? Absolutely. This fast-paced and interactive class is designed to help you catch common grammar mistakes that can hurt your professional image and your credibility. During this course, participants will explore those essential grammar rules that every professional must know such as:

Subject/verb agreement
Who vs. whom; me vs. myself (You’ll never be confused again! )
How to correct writing without changing the meaning
If you would like to strengthen your writing skills (and have fun in the process), this class is for you!

SCS090 Powerful Public Speaking

Instructor: Irma Alvarez

Have you ever been in a meeting or making a presentation and wished you had prepared more fully? Has stage fright ever had an impact on your effectiveness? This program can help! Attend this program and learn how to:

Reduce stage fright
Deliver with professionalism.
Apply the basics of public speaking by focusing on situation, purpose, audience, and methods.

BCC040 Power Writing

Instructor: Verlissa Ford

Make your writing fast, fun, and fabulous! Come to Power Writing and learn how to design power-packed documents that your readers will actually enjoy. In this class we will focus on preparing professional business documents discuss, including a review of grammar, tone, stressing the positive, saying “no” gently, and doing a little more than you need to in order to get your message across. You will learn to:

Define your purpose
Target your reader
Reduce writer’s block
Organize your writing
Eliminate “clutter”
Edit for accuracy and grammatical correctness

TRV011 Compassionate Communication in the Workplace

Instructor: Leif Stringer

A harmonious and connected workplace makes day-to-day tasks easier and enhances the level of enjoyment we experience at work. This course provides the opportunity to explore what influences your interactions with others and specific tools to use so you can discern what motivates people’s actions and communicate more effectively. The course is designed to give you time to explore the concepts, discuss ways to apply compassionate communication to your specific work environment, and practice with a skilled expert. You’ll have the opportunity to personalize the learning material to use in your own work environment.