Improving Communication Skills from Coursera

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Syllabus

Cooperation, Competition, and Comparisons

In this module, you'll learn when to compete and when to cooperate to achieve success. You’ll explore the three key principles of cooperation and competition: scarcity, sociability and dynamic instability, and learn how to determine which approach to use based on your situation. You'll also discover how to use comparisons to provide motivation, and how to avoid "invidious" comparisons which can lead to discouragement or unethical behavior. By the end of this module, you'll be able to attain a better balance between competitive motivation and cooperative satisfaction to make your interactions more productive and successful.

Trust

In this module, you'll explore how to gain and built trust to develop cooperation, and understand why this critical step can be so challenging. You'll examine the factors that develop a trusting relationship: demonstrating vulnerability, building rapport, and expressing warmth, and learn how to increase trust by uncovering common goals, common enemies, and interdependence. You'll also learn how to communicate with team members, friends, and opponents in a way that encourages trust. By the end of this module, you’ll understand how to build trusting relationships to achieve cooperation and mutual satisfaction.

Deception

In this module, you’ll learn what deception is, how to detect it, and what to do once you know it's taken place. You'll examine the most common cues that indicate deception and explore practical steps to take when you discover deception. You'll also be able to evaluate deceptions and transgressions to determine whether they are core or non-core violations. Finally, you'll analyze the components of successful apologies, so you can create your own, if necessary. By the conclusion of this module, you'll be able to better detect deception, and devise an appropriate reaction that will help you achieve your objectives.

Effective Communication

This module was designed to teach you both the key principles of effective communication, and how to harness the power of setting goals to improve your performance. You’ll learn how to create memorable and persuasive messages, ask thoughtful questions, engage in active listening, and choose the right medium (face-to-face conversation, video conference, phone call, or email) for your messages. You'll also learn the how to use goal setting for maximum benefit while avoiding the common pitfalls of overly ambitious targets. By the end of this module, you'll be able to communicate effectively using the right medium, and use goal-setting to increase your productivity and boost your performance.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches principles of effective communication, which are useful for many industries and roles

Examines the factors that contribute to building trust, which is essential for collaboration and success

Provides techniques for detecting deception, which can be valuable in various settings

Covers a range of communication strategies, making it applicable to diverse scenarios

Taught by a Wharton professor and best-selling author, indicating the instructor's expertise in the field

Might require students to have some prior knowledge of communication concepts

Reviews summary

Proven communication

Learners say this course is largely positive, with 76% giving it a perfect score. The course emphasizes engaging assignments and covers concepts including lectures, readings, exams, quizzes, homework assignments, instructors, deadlines, and certificates. Key features of the course include practical and applicable communication strategies.

Course covers goal setting.

"The course exceeded my expectations."

"A very good certification for people that are looking to enhance strategic managing skills."

"I finished this course in two days."

Course is engaging with positive examples and relevant stories.

"The course gives a lot of interesting insights into various aspects of communication."

"It was a well-structured course and it touched upon a lot of topics related to communication, trust, deception, and goal setting."

"The content is surprisingly expansive and cover areas that I wouldn't think of in the first place."

Professor Schweitzer is engaging and positive.

"Really enjoyed listening to Professor Maurice Schweitzer's lectures."

"Professor Schweitzer is very knowledgable and has a great ability to structure information and at the same time convey it in a very easy to digest manner."

"Excellent. This is definitely less about actual communication and more about the strategy of what, when, how, and why to communicate."

Course provides practical communication strategies.

"Many many thanks to the professor for this excellent training."

"This is one of the best courses I've attended."

"Fantastic quick primer on a range of communication skills including facilitating cooperation, building trust, detecting deception, apologizing effectively, communicating effectively, active listening, and goal setting."

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 Improving Communication Skills with these activities:

Review basic communication theories

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Review the basic theories and models of communication to build a strong foundation for the course.

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Review the key communication theories and models covered in the course syllabus
Read relevant chapters or sections from the assigned textbook
Summarize and synthesize the main ideas and concepts from the materials reviewed

Organize course materials

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Effectively organize and review course materials to enhance retention and understanding.

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Gather all course materials (e.g., lecture notes, readings, assignments)
Create a system for organizing and storing the materials
Review the organized materials regularly

Practice active listening skills

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Practice and enhance active listening skills to improve understanding and strengthen communication abilities.

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Identify a conversation partner (friend, family member, or colleague)
Watch videos or read articles on active listening techniques
Take turns practicing active listening with the conversation partner
Reflect on the experience and discuss areas for improvement

Four other activities

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Engage in peer discussions

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Engage in discussions with peers to delve deeper into course concepts, exchange ideas, and improve understanding.

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Identify peers who are willing to participate in discussions
Set up regular meeting times and discuss specific topics
Prepare for discussions by reading course materials and reflecting on concepts
Participate actively in discussions, sharing insights and asking questions

Craft persuasive messages

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Master the art of crafting persuasive messages that effectively convey ideas and influence others.

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Review the principles of persuasion and influence
Analyze examples of successful persuasive messages
Practice writing persuasive messages in different formats (e.g., emails, presentations, letters)
Seek feedback on the crafted messages to refine them further

Develop a communication plan

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Create a comprehensive communication plan that effectively outlines strategies for conveying key messages to target audiences.

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Identify communication objectives and key messages
Define target audiences and their communication preferences
Develop a communication strategy and select appropriate channels
Create a timeline and assign responsibilities for implementation
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the communication plan

Conduct a communication audit

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Conduct a comprehensive communication audit to assess the effectiveness of communication within an organization or team.

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Identify the purpose and scope of the communication audit
Gather data from multiple sources (e.g., surveys, interviews, document analysis)
Analyze the data to identify strengths and weaknesses in communication
Develop recommendations for improving communication
Present the audit findings and recommendations to stakeholders

Career center

Learners who complete Improving Communication Skills will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Writer

Writers create written content for a variety of purposes, such as marketing, journalism, and fiction. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Writers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively through the written word.

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Lawyer

Lawyers represent clients in legal matters. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Lawyers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with clients, judges, and opposing counsel.

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Trainer

Trainers develop and deliver training programs to employees. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Trainers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with trainees, build relationships, and create engaging training programs.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for managing the human resources function of an organization. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Human Resources Managers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with employees, build trust, and resolve conflict.

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Consultant

Consultants provide advice to clients on a variety of business issues. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Consultants succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with clients, build trust, and persuade clients to adopt their recommendations.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Marketing Managers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with customers, build relationships, and persuade customers to buy their products or services.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning and executing projects. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Project Managers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with team members, stakeholders, and clients.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and motivating sales teams. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Sales Managers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with team members, clients, and stakeholders.

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Customer Success Manager

Customer Success Managers are responsible for ensuring that customers are satisfied with a company's products or services. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Customer Success Managers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with customers, build relationships, and resolve customer issues.

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Teacher

Teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Teachers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with students, parents, and colleagues.

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Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers are responsible for managing the public image of an organization. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Public Relations Managers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with the media, build relationships, and manage crises.

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Account Executive

Account Executives are responsible for managing relationships with key clients. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Account Executives build strong relationships with clients by teaching them how to communicate effectively, build trust, and detect deception. The course can also help Account Executives close deals by teaching them how to craft persuasive messages and negotiate effectively.

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Investment Banker

Investment Bankers help companies raise capital and advise on mergers and acquisitions. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Investment Bankers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with clients, build relationships, and persuade clients to invest in their deals.

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Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Entrepreneurs succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with customers, investors, and employees.

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Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers are responsible for generating new business leads and developing new markets. The Improving Communication Skills course can help Business Development Managers succeed in their roles by teaching them how to communicate effectively with potential clients, build relationships, and close deals.

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