Leadership development courses - Vital Learning Corp - doing the right things to connect with team members for best results - online campus or classroom approach - Leadership Essentials - Leadership PLUS courses education for newly promoted




*In terms of technology, the communication process has never been easier or better.* *The world is linked electronically for instant access.* *Yet communications - direct communications between people - are still a major problem facing team leaders and* *probably always will be.*




A Leadership Series™ ESSENTIALS Course Available as an online course or classroom workshop The classroom workshop is also available in Spanish

Communicating Up focuses on the upward communication important to productivity and performance.

Although important, this area is not one many people work to refine. Fortunately, you already have the skills to do so; they are the same ones used to communicate with team members. It's simply a matter of applying them to your manager.

To communicate effectively with your manager, you have to understand the manager's style and environment. Some prefer brief overviews, while others demand detail. Since you cannot change your manager, you have to adapt your own style to fit his or hers.

Regardless of your manager's style, you need to follow certain guidelines to communicate well. One key is to alert the manager of any problems or opportunities as soon as possible. Another is to take full responsibility to make sure that communication takes place.

In addition, you must remember today's work environment. Chances are your manager is busier than ever before and more in need of good advice and information. It's your job to help your manager make good decisions through your good communication skills.

Communication is still not enough. In fact, if you listen and do nothing, the situation may get even worse. Instead, you need to deal with the issue and solve the problem, if possible.

Program Description

Most managers and team leaders realize the importance of upward communication, but few accept the responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of communicating with their own managers. Managers and team leaders will learn how to frame communication so that a desired result is achieved.

Communicating Up is available as an online 1.5 hour course or as an interactive, 4-hour group workshop designed for 6-18 participants.

Objectives

Understand the importance of framing all communication with their manager in terms of his/her self-interest.
Enter meetings with their manager armed with a well-thought-out and clearly stated objective.
Clearly link their objective with facts that support their plans and goals.
Work with their manager to uncover any questions or reservations he/she may have concerning their message.
Move conversations toward agreement with questions that focus on the benefits to be gained when the objective is reached.
Clearly and concisely restate the decisions that results from Communicating Up and insure that those decisions are mutually understood

Skill Points

State objective concisely in terms of the needs and interests of their manager
Detail objective and support it with facts
Ask for and/or respond to questions
Probe for agreement
Summarize and confirm conclusion

Organizational Impact

Communicating Up will enable managers and team leaders to:

Understand the importance of framing all communication with your manager in terms of his/her self-interest.
Enter meetings with your manager armed with a well-thought out and clearly stated objective.
Clearly link your objective with facts that support your plans and goals.
Work with your manager to uncover any questions or reservations he/she may have concerning your message.
Move conversations toward agreement with questions that focus on benefits to be gained when your objective is reached.
Clearly and concisely restate the decision that results from communicating with your manager and insure that this decision is mutually understood.

The Online Version of this Course

This same course is also available online for your training needs. The online course is 1.5 – 2.0 hours in length.

To reinforce the learning from the online course, it is recommended that you also use the Participant Workbook - it serves as a companion to the class. Though not required, the workbook provides the learner with more information, references for future use and a handy troubleshooting guide for this skill. Designed for use with the classroom version of this course, the participant workbook does not correspond directly to the online course - it is, however, a valuable resource for practice of the skills and for reinforcement and is highly recommended.

The online course and workbook together may be purchased for a
special "blended learning" rate

Course Materials

Facilitator Guide

Complete instructions on how to conduct the workshop.
Explanatory text for the trainer, sample trainer narrative, transcripts of video segments and facilitation notes.
Facilitator Resource CD-Rom containing PowerPoint presentation, additional resources, and reproducible pages from the facilitator guide as well as entire participant workbook.

Participant Workbook

Exercises, forms, skill practice aids, and a video synopsis
Job Aids section with tools and resources for applying the skills learned in the workshop
Memory Jogger Card providing a handy reminder of the workshop's skill points

DVD

Introduction followed by a scenario displaying positive use of the three skill points discussed in the program
Video segments focusing on modeling positive behaviors for skill practices
Scenarios in both office and industrial settings

Delivery options:

Workshop 4 hours
Online Training 1.5 hours
Use as a Blended Learning session

The Complete List of Courses in the Leadership Series

The Leadership Series™ ESSENTIALS Courses

Twelve courses in the fundamentals of leading others

The Essential Skills of Communicating and the Essential Skills of Leadership are excellent start points, then add other courses as your needs require

Each course in the ESSENTIALS Series is available online or for classroom delivery

Courses in Core Strategies for Leading Others

Essential Skills of Leadership

Essential Skills of Communicating

Developing Performance Goals & Standards

Providing Performance Feedback

Courses in Improving Individual & Team Performance

Managing Complaints

Improving Work Habits

Effective Discipline

Resolving Conflict

Coaching Job Skills