Send three and fourpence, we’re going to a dance* – how to be a more effective communicator

Available as FULL DAY or HALF DAY practical workshop - please phone for details

Misunderstanding another person's communication can have serious consequences as in the example above (supposedly from a First World War directive* - 'send reinforcements, we're going to advance)

This is just one example of a classic ‘mondegreen’ (Sylvia Wright ‘The death of lady Mondgreen’ Harpers Magazine 1954) - a word or phrase that when spoken is misheard as something completely different.

Many people today still can’t understand what the Beatles were on about when they sang ‘the girl with the colitis goes by’ ('the girl with the kaleidoscope eyes') or why Credence Clearwater Revival should keep referring to 'the bathroom on the right' (the bad moon on the rise') and how many of us hear Jimi Hendrix singing ‘Scuse me while I kiss this guy’ ('scuse me while I kiss the sky'?)

The patient phoning the hospital asking for Sir Michael Spears (cervical smears) are all examples of how we can get it so wrong – and so easily. In today’s fast paced, ever changing world, the art of effective communication is a vital skill in improving business relationships and even reducing the threat of litigation (especially in financial services where a great deal of communication is over the phone)

In today’s fast paced, ever changing world, the art of effective communication is a vital skill in improving business relationships. Understanding how we communicate will help your Organisation to deliver:

·         Increased productivity

·         Increased profitability

·         Greater customer satisfaction

·         Less waste

·         Greater job satisfaction

·         Better staff / management relationship

·         High innovation

·         More effective sales force

Business success depends on relationships and business relationships depend on clear communication.  There are four basic areas to consider

·         Clear purpose 

·         Awareness of audience

·         Attention to message

·         Outcome

These four elements will help structure any form of communication activity – whether it is writing, presenting or face-to-face discussion. During this highly interactive fast paced and entertaining (using case studies and examples) workshop – available as a half day or full day – we discover how to

*Set communication objectives – the use of supersize goals 
*Select the right words to use
*The use of questions
*The art of active listening
*The 3 different ways of receiving information
*Body language – what does it all mean?
*Rapport building – pacing

In the full day version we extend the ‘body language’ session and include a session on practical writing skills including writing e-mails (legal obligation)


TO BOOK YOUR OWN IN – COMPANY COURSE, PLEASE PHONE (0114) 288 5951

If you or your staff produce written reports as part of their role, you may be interested in our FULL DAY Business writing skills – ‘Murder at Barbot Hall’. Using a four act murder mystery as its theme, the full day covers all aspects of communication and is a fun way of learning how to produce written business communication that can be readily understood and acted upon. 

‘Murder at Barbot Hall’ is produced as a bespoke workshop with content fully tailored to your specific needs and is personalised to your company and staff.

Click here for more details