Effective Communication for Today’s Leader from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Topic 1. Human communication levels

In the first topic of this course, you will study the concept of human communication, its importance in people’s lives, and its application to the environments we move in: family, professional, and social. At the same time, you will learn about communication levels, which allow both the sender and the receiver to identify the level we are communicating in order to establish a connection between both parties.

Topic 2. Assertive communication

This week will cover information on assertive communication, the ability to communicate with messages that are delivered clearly, firmly, directly, and respectfully. The goal is for you to learn about assertiveness, the first communication skill that is the foundation of dialogue, so you can put it into practice. You will also learn a technique that is easy to use, that you can use immediately to deliver assertive messages.

Topic 3. Empathetic listening

This week you will learn essential aspects of the second interpersonal communication skill: empathetic listening. One of the most frequent errors when we communicate in work environments is to only pay attention to the technical aspects of the conversation. In other words, we tend to ignore the emotional state or mood of the other person, and this can damage our interpersonal relationship.

Topic 4. Performance feedback

During this last week of the course, you’ll learn more about the third interpersonal communication skill: performance feedback. This is a skill that, overall, allows us to respond to messages from other people; and specifically, can be used as a tool to improve performance in sessions to establish goals and evaluate performance. In this way, effective leaders increase their ability to direct, guide, teach, and motivate collaborators by correctly using feedback.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Helps learners enhance interpersonal communication skills to improve professional environments and outcomes

Suitable for individuals seeking to refine their communication skills in management and leadership roles

Provides foundational understanding of human communication levels, enabling learners to adapt to different communication contexts

Incorporates techniques for assertive communication, empathetic listening, and performance feedback, which are essential skills in various professional settings

Taught by Carlos Alberto Tena Sánchez, who is recognized for their expertise in interpersonal and group communication

Learners may need to apply the skills in real-world situations to fully grasp their application and effectiveness

Reviews summary

Mixed review communication course

Learners say this course, which teaches the value of communication, gets mixed reviews. Many students enjoy this course's informative content and clear, easy-to-follow nature, but others criticize the course for its repetitiveness, poor English translations, and use of Spanish language instruction without proper notice to non-Spanish speaking students.

Course is clear and easy to follow.

"Easy to follow course in the value of communication."

"Clear pdfs, basic but essential course."

Course material is repetitive.

"Repetitive questions and not easy to follow the videos in Spanish even though some of them have subtitles."

"Some questions were asked multiple times (the same way), yet at different answers."

Some course content is not in English.

"The language of teaching was in Spanish and that won't work for me."

"Repetitive questions and not easy to follow the videos in Spanish even though some of them have subtitles."

"Didn't say it's not in English."

Career center

Learners who complete Effective Communication for Today’s Leader will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create instruction manuals, reference guides, and other supporting documents that explain complex technical information. This course may be helpful in pursuing a career as a Technical Writer. It emphasizes the importance of clear and concise communication, including using assertive communication and empathetic listening.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists manage the public image of an organization or individual. This course may prove useful in starting or advancing a career as a Public Relations Specialist. It offers insights into effective communication, including fostering honest dialogue and delivering messages assertively.

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Social Media Manager

Social Media Managers manage social media accounts for businesses and organizations. This course may be helpful in starting or pursuing a career as a Social Media Manager. It provides insights into effective communication techniques that build stronger relationships with clients and improve reputation.

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Speechwriter

Speechwriters craft speeches and presentations for public figures. This course may be helpful in starting or advancing a career as a Speechwriter. It helps build a foundation in communication skills, including assertive communication and delivering messages empathetically. Coursework focuses on developing speechwriting skills and techniques.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. This course may be helpful in starting or pursuing a career as a Marketing Manager. It provides insights into how communication builds stronger relationships with clients and improves reputation.

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Communications Specialist

Communications Specialists write, edit, publish, and distribute content for a company. This course may be useful in starting or advancing a career as a Communications Specialist. It provides a foundation in communication skills, including building relationships, fostering honest dialogue, and providing helpful feedback to coworkers.

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Media Relations Specialist

Media Relations Specialists build and maintain relationships with members of the media. This course may be useful in starting or advancing a career as a Media Relations Specialist. It provides a foundation in communication skills, including establishing honest dialogue and delivering messages assertively.

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Communications Manager

Communications Managers help businesses communicate with the public through media and digital channels. This course may be helpful to someone considering starting or pursuing a career as a Communications Manager. This course provides learners with insights into effective communication techniques that build stronger relationships with clients and improve reputation.

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Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses and organizations on a variety of topics. This course may be helpful in starting or pursuing a career as a Consultant. It provides insights into effective communication, including building relationships and fostering honest dialogue.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead and motivate sales teams to achieve revenue goals. This course may be useful in pursuing a career as a Sales Manager. It helps build a foundation in communication skills, including fostering honest dialogue and providing helpful feedback to coworkers.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business processes and make recommendations for improvement. This course may be helpful in starting or pursuing a career as a Business Analyst. It provides a foundation in communication, including building relationships and delivering messages assertively.

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Training and Development Manager

Training and Development Managers plan and implement training programs for employees. This course may be helpful in starting or pursuing a career as a Training and Development Manager. It provides insights into effective communication, including fostering honest dialogue and delivering messages assertively.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers oversee human resources operations and ensure employee satisfaction. This course may be helpful in starting or pursuing a career as a Human Resources Manager. It provides insights into effective communication, including fostering honest dialogue and delivering messages assertively.

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Event Planner

Event Planners organize and coordinate events such as conferences, weddings, and parties. This course may be helpful in starting or pursuing a career as an Event Planner. It provides a foundation in communication, including building relationships and delivering messages assertively.

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Customer Service Manager

Customer Service Managers oversee customer service operations and ensure customer satisfaction. This course may be helpful in pursuing a career as a Customer Service Manager. It helps build a foundation in communication skills, including fostering honest dialogue and providing helpful feedback to coworkers.

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