Communication Skills

Listeners interpret our ideas and intentions based on how we express vocally, linguistically and non-verbally. Our personalised coaching enhances communication skills enabling you to express with impact and influence. The IE Group’s team of specialists combine scientific principles and practical methodology to develop all aspects of communication skills in the following areas:

Vocal Expression (Voice Training)

Your voice is your primary communication tool, a vital component of your personal brand and a complex instrument. Our voice training specialists work from a scientific base and apply world-class practical methodology to determine and remediate specific habits that impede vocal impact. Personalised voice training can address elements such as

Breath control and body integration
Placement and resonance to enhance quality
Modulation to secure vocal variety
Articulation to promote clarity
Pronunciation or Phoneme adjustments
Repair strategies for specific vocal habits such as rate management, perception skills and projection

Verbal/Linguistic Expression (Language Training)

Words convey our intent and ideas. The ability to use language descriptively, appropriately and clearly is vital and of relevance in our multi-lingual context. Our language training spans several linguistic disciplines and is geared to examine and enhance individual patterns in a manner that promotes confident, concise expression while remaining true to individual style. The level and scope of language training and coaching is determined by the individual’s habits, command of business English and style. Programmes draw from the following elements:

Syntax (grammatical structures) of business English is refined at an advanced level, with specific focus on the individual’s target areas
Strategies are provided to enhance descriptive vocabulary
Stylistic elements such as clarity and conciseness is applied to increase impact
Tone is enhanced to promote persuasive and diplomatic expression at a notional level

Non-verbal Expression (The body's movement in space)

Non-verbal signals are governed by impulse, emotion, environment, socialisation and culture. It is mostly expressed and interpreted sub-consciously yet can have a significant impact on interactions. We draw from various disciplines to generate awareness of non-verbal signals to enable delegates to interpret signals and adjust their own patterns in a positive manner. Relevant aspects that can be explored include:

Postural integration
Space and distance
Semiotic elements such as colour, signs and symbols
Movement patterns include gesture and shadow patterning
Prosodic elements such as eye-contact and facial expression
Energy adjustments

All elements of expression are addressed in programmes depening on the application and context.

Written Expression (Advanced Business Writing Skills)

Our writing skills training programmes are aimed at enhancing the skills and styles that delegates have acquired. A coaching approach is applied to identify and then refine your specific syntactical and stylistic habits. We use actual samples of your writing to ensure relevance and immediate outcomes. Collaboration with IE Group Consulting enables us to assist you with writing processes and content management. A suitable combination of the following aspects can be applied:

Purpose
To enhance business writing skills in English for proposal writing, translating technical content into plain language and to enhance accessibility, clarity and simplicity in style, and to influence in all forms of written expression.

A Programme will give you…

Enhanced structure, style and effectiveness of written communication
Ability to translate technical information for non-technical clients or stakeholders
More impact, ability influence and sell ideas in all written communication

You are ready for this if you…

Work in a technical area and need to communicate with non-technical people/divisions
Need to enhance your style or impact in written communication
Have firm grasp of English but would like to enhance it further to speed up and enhance effectiveness.

Outline

Analysis of documents and writing style to determine gaps in language and style in various media.
One-on-one coaching to enhance style using specific examples in workplace. Principles of layout and structuring
- Effective use of syntax (verb tenses, concord, conjunctions, punctuation etc)
- Fundamentals of plain language and modern Business English
- Tone and word-usage
- Stylistic elements including clarity, conciseness and consistency
- Strategies to ensure reader-centred content

Tailor-made one-on-one coaching produces best results
A practical, coaching approach and interventions are applied to enhance written communication. Development would occur through a process of analysis, training, application and feedback.

Course Structure
1. An assessment on several documents is conducted.
2. You will receive a report detailing the growth areas and programme outline.
3. One-on-one, 1-hour sessions with writing skills specialists commences.
4. Final report detailing your progress and further developmental areas or recommendations is provided.

Should there be groups or teams that are interested we do a combination of group and individual sessions to achieve optimum outcomes.