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Effective Communication for Project Stakeholders and Teams

William A. Brantley

“Everyone communicates, but few connect” is a famous book and message by John C. Maxwell on leadership. The meaning behind this message is that as leaders of programs and projects, we need to be not just communicators, but effective communicators.

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“Everyone communicates, but few connect” is a famous book and message by John C. Maxwell on leadership. The meaning behind this message is that as leaders of programs and projects, we need to be not just communicators, but effective communicators.

Obtaining your Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or similar project management certificate is the first step. But, as you gain program management and project management experience, you realize that effective communication goes beyond what you learned in "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge" (PMBOK).

Gaining a program management certification or project management certification (such as the PMP certification) equips you with the necessary project management tools to begin your project or project management career. There is more to effective program and project communication than what is on the PMP exam.

For communication from program managers and project managers to be truly effective, there must be understanding beyond what you learned from your professional certification. The communicator and the receiver must use feedback to determine how the message was received and if the communicator created the intended level of understanding in the receiver for the communication to succeed.

In this course, you will learn about the Understanding Triad - know-what, know-how, and know-why. The Understanding Triad aids you in crafting just the right level of explanation for all your audiences. The Understanding Triad will make you a more effective program manager, traditional project manager, agile project manager, or certified scrum master.

The Project Management Institute, Inc (PMI) teaches that project management communication is the transfer of information. The project or program manager sends messages to their project teams, stakeholders, customers, and executive sponsors. If the program manager or project manager believes that communicating a clear message is enough for good communication, then the manager may be fooled into thinking their communication efforts are complete. Even if there is feedback, the feedback is usually limited to confirming that the message was received as intended. However, communication is not merely the transmission of information. The difference can be days, months, or years of wasted time and effort; or successful, early delivery.

Certified program and certified project managers earn 10 professional development units (PDU) as they learn how communication can make a difference in every interaction, and become a truly effective program or project manager. Gain the power skill of communication in this certificate program.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1: Defining Communication
Week 2: Creating Messages to be Understood
Week 3: Feedback and Understanding
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Examines key concepts in project communication to help reduce the risk of costly delays or project re-work
Develops skills that are essential for managing communications with various project stakeholders, improving project outcomes
Offers a comprehensive look at project communication in a business context, enhancing learners' understanding of managing interactions with different stakeholders

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Reviews summary

Effective communication for project professionals

According to learners, "Effective Communication for Project Stakeholders and Teams" is a highly practical course that significantly enhances communication skills for project management professionals. Students praise its ability to go beyond foundational PMBOK concepts, offering immediately applicable strategies. A standout feature is the "Understanding Triad" framework, consistently highlighted as a game-changer for effective communication. The course is noted for its clear and engaging instruction. While generally well-received, some experienced professionals may find parts foundational, and a few suggest a slower pace in certain sections.
Offers professional development units for certification.
"Earning PDUs was a great bonus too."
"Good for PDUs and a valuable addition to my skill set."
"The value for PDUs is just icing on the cake."
Instructor delivers content clearly with relevant examples.
"The instructor's examples were relevant and easy to grasp."
"The instructor is phenomenal, clear, and provides actionable advice."
"The instructor's delivery is engaging, and the concepts are presented in a very digestible way."
Expands on communication skills beyond standard certifications.
"It truly goes beyond what the PMBOK teaches and focuses on real application."
"Definitely recommended for project managers looking to elevate their communication beyond the basics learned for PMP."
"The course elaborates well on communication principles that are often overlooked in standard project management training."
Introduces a unique, impactful framework for tailored communication.
"The 'Understanding Triad' framework is a game-changer for how I approach communication with stakeholders."
"The explanations of know-what, know-how, and know-why are brilliant. It makes so much sense to tailor information delivery based on audience needs."
"The 'Understanding Triad' is revolutionary; it truly helps me craft the right level of explanation for my audiences."
Provides strategies readily applicable to real-world projects.
"I've already applied several techniques to my current project, and the results are noticeable."
"I appreciated the practical exercises and how they related directly to real-world project scenarios."
"I learned how to use concrete strategies to get my team on the same page."
Some parts felt slow or occasionally repetitive.
"Some parts felt a bit slow, but overall very valuable."
"I felt some parts were a bit repetitive. If you're new to communication theory, it's a good start."
"I felt some of the content was quite basic and stretched out."
May feel foundational for those with extensive prior experience.
"Much of it felt like a refresher of basic communication theories I've encountered before."
"For me, with several years of experience, I was hoping for more advanced strategies or case studies."
"While the ideas are sound, I felt some of the content was quite basic and stretched out. I was looking for something more specific to complex project scenarios."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Effective Communication for Project Stakeholders and Teams with these activities:
Attend a Professional Development Conference
Expand your network and learn from other professionals in the field.
Browse courses on Professional Development
Show steps
  • Research upcoming professional development conferences.
  • Attend the conference and participate in sessions and workshops.
  • Network with other professionals and learn about their experiences.
Understanding Triad - Know-What, Know-How, Know-Why
Review the Understanding Triad to reinforce your understanding of communication.
Browse courses on Communication
Show steps
  • Read the article on the Understanding Triad.
  • Identify the three levels of understanding: know-what, know-how, and know-why.
  • Explain how the Understanding Triad can help you become a more effective communicator.
Practice Active Listening Skills
Improve your ability to actively listen to others.
Browse courses on Project Communication
Show steps
  • Find a partner and take turns practicing active listening.
  • Focus on paying attention to what the other person is saying, both verbally and nonverbally.
  • Practice asking clarifying questions.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Create a Presentation on Communication Feedback
Enhance your understanding of communication feedback.
Browse courses on Project Communication
Show steps
  • Research different types of communication feedback.
  • Create a presentation on the importance of communication feedback.
  • Practice delivering your presentation.
Develop a Communication Plan for a Project
Put your communication skills into practice by creating a communication plan for a project.
Browse courses on Effective Communication
Show steps
  • Identify the project stakeholders.
  • Determine the communication needs of each stakeholder.
  • Develop a communication plan that meets the needs of all stakeholders.
  • Implement the communication plan and track its effectiveness.
Contribute to an Open Source Project
Contribute to an open source project to gain experience in real-world communication.
Browse courses on Open Source
Show steps
  • Find an open source project that interests you.
  • Review the project's documentation and communication guidelines.
  • Make a contribution to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Effective Communication for Project Stakeholders and Teams will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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Course image
Effort
4 weeks, 2-3 hours a week
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Maryland, College Park
Instructor
William A. Brantley
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Examines key concepts in project communication to help reduce the risk of costly delays or project re-work
Develops skills that are essential for managing communications with various project stakeholders, improving project outcomes
Offers a comprehensive look at project communication in a business context, enhancing learners' understanding of managing interactions with different stakeholders
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