Communication Strategies for a Virtual Age from Coursera

Communication has changed! The traditional rules for speaking and presenting, meeting coordination, influencing people, negotiating and selling ideas no longer apply in a world of skype, messenger, video and teleconference. This course will act as an overview on several concepts each of which could be a course of their own and our goal is to give you tools that you can practice and perfect on your own.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Apply communication principles and techniques for in-person and virtual teams

• Use a science based approach to create impactful presentations

• Refine your communication style to better persuade and influence others

• Run more effective and impactful meetings

• Incorporate strategies to have positive difficult conversations and make people feel valued and listened to

*** This course will require you to record yourself speaking. Therefore you must have a phone/computer with a functional camera and microphone.***

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE?

Anyone looking for professional and/or leadership development. This class mainly uses examples from the professional, business environment. If you are looking to advance at your current organization or to enhancing your personal value for potential employers this course is for you.

WHAT MAKES THIS COURSE EFFECTIVE?

Many educational experiences describe and explain, but in this course we will apply and demonstrate. We teach practical and proven concepts, show you how to apply them and give you opportunities to practice them in a safe and supportive environment. This course is full of opportunities to put the ideas presented into practice and test their effectiveness for yourself.

WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE THIS COURSE?

We will challenge the preconceived ideas about what it means to be part of a virtual team, and support you to be a dynamic team contributor no matter where you work. In this course you can expect to be both energized and uncomfortable – like in most experiences that result in positive growth and change!

This course is offered through the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (https://learn.utoronto.ca/).

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Virtual Teams and Virtual Communication

This module is intended to create a foundation for the course by challenging your ideas of not just what virtual communication means, but also communication as a whole. This module will also introduce the foundational ideas of the whole course.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a comprehensive overview of communication strategies for virtual teams

Incorporates hands-on application and practice opportunities

Teaches science-based approaches to creating impactful presentations

Covers strategies for having productive and positive difficult conversations

Taught by instructors with extensive experience in communication and presentation

Requires students to have access to a computer with a functional camera and microphone

Reviews summary

Practical virtual communication skills

According to learners, this course provides highly practical strategies for communicating effectively in virtual environments. Students report learning useful techniques for virtual meetings, presentations, and influencing others. Many appreciate the emphasis on applying concepts rather than just explaining them, finding the content relevant to their professional lives. While some mention the requirement to record oneself can be challenging, they often find the practice opportunities valuable for improvement. Some learners felt the course offered a broad overview and could benefit from greater depth on specific topics. Overall, reviews suggest a largely positive experience for professionals seeking to enhance their communication in a remote work era.

Covers many topics, but may lack deep dives.

"A great introduction to various virtual communication topics."

"It's an overview, which is fine, but I wish some areas went into more detail."

"Covers a lot of ground, maybe too quickly in some sections."

"Provided a solid foundation, but I'll need to seek more advanced training elsewhere."

Pushes learners to be uncomfortable for growth.

"The course description warned it would be uncomfortable, and it was, but it led to growth."

"Stepping out of my comfort zone with the recording exercises paid off."

"Felt energized by the material, even when it challenged my habits."

Offers specific techniques for improving virtual meetings.

"The module on making virtual meetings awesome was particularly useful."

"Learned how to make our team meetings more engaging and less boring."

"Got some great ideas for structuring agendas and encouraging participation online."

Includes valuable opportunities for practicing skills.

"Recording myself felt awkward at first, but it was incredibly helpful for seeing my habits."

"The practical exercises pushed me outside my comfort zone in a good way."

"Really appreciated the chance to apply the techniques learned through practice."

"The focus on application makes this course stand out."

Provides immediately applicable skills for virtual work.

"I learned so many practical things I could use right away in my remote team meetings."

"The tips for virtual presentations were a game-changer for me. Really applicable."

"This course focuses on the unique challenges of communicating virtually, which was exactly what I needed."

"Found the content highly relevant to my job in a remote 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 Communication Strategies for a Virtual Age with these activities:

Review foundational information

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Refresh your understanding of basic communication principles to strengthen your foundation for this course.

Browse courses on Effective Communication

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Review notes or textbooks on communication theory and models.
Summarize key concepts in your own words to improve recall.
Complete practice exercises or quizzes to test your understanding.

Explore online tutorials on virtual team collaboration

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Expand your knowledge of strategies and best practices for collaborating effectively in virtual team settings.

Browse courses on Communication Skills

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Search for online tutorials on virtual team collaboration.
Select and watch tutorials that align with your learning goals.
Take notes and summarize key takeaways.
Apply the strategies and techniques learned in your own virtual team interactions.

Practice active listening skills

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Enhance your ability to actively listen and demonstrate empathy in virtual and in-person communication settings.

Browse courses on Active Listening

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Engage in role-playing exercises to practice listening and responding.
Provide feedback to others on their listening skills.
Use active listening techniques in daily conversations.

Five other activities

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Create a communication plan

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Develop a comprehensive communication plan to apply the strategies and techniques learned in this course.

Browse courses on Communication Strategy

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Identify your communication goals and objectives.
Analyze your target audience and their communication preferences.
Select appropriate communication channels and methods.
Create a content calendar and schedule.
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of your communication plan.

Compile a toolkit of resources on virtual communication

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Enhance your learning experience by gathering and organizing valuable resources on virtual communication.

Browse courses on Virtual Communication

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Search for and identify articles, videos, and other resources on virtual communication.
Organize the resources into a comprehensive toolkit.
Share your toolkit with classmates or colleagues for mutual benefit.

Attend a virtual communication workshop

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Participate in a workshop to gain practical tips and strategies for effective communication in virtual environments.

Browse courses on Virtual Communication

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Research and identify relevant virtual communication workshops.
Register and attend the workshop.
Actively participate and engage with the trainers and attendees.
Implement the strategies learned in your own communication practices.

Attend industry networking events

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Expand your professional network and learn from industry experts by participating in relevant networking events.

Browse courses on Networking

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Identify and attend industry networking events that align with your interests.
Prepare an elevator pitch to introduce yourself and your work.
Actively engage with attendees and exchange ideas.
Follow up with individuals you connect with after the event.

Provide mentorship to junior colleagues or students

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Strengthen your communication and leadership skills by guiding and supporting others in their professional development.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Identify individuals who could benefit from your guidance and expertise.
Offer your mentorship and establish clear expectations.
Provide regular feedback and support to your mentees.
Share your experiences and knowledge to help them grow professionally.

Career center

Learners who complete Communication Strategies for a Virtual Age will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Virtual Event Manager

Virtual Event Managers plan, promote, and produce events that take place virtually. This role would benefit from the course's overview of communication concepts, as well as its emphasis on creating impactful presentations. The course's focus on refining communication styles to better persuade and influence would also be helpful for Virtual Event Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Virtual Event Manager

Virtual Collaboration Specialist

Virtual Collaboration Specialists facilitate and manage virtual teams and projects. They ensure that team members have the tools and resources they need to communicate and collaborate effectively. This role would benefit from the course's emphasis on applying communication principles and techniques for in-person and virtual teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Virtual Collaboration Specialist

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop and deliver training materials for employees and customers. This role would benefit from the course's focus on using a science-based approach to create impactful presentations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Communication Manager

Communication Managers develop and implement communication strategies for organizations. This role would benefit from the course's overview of communication concepts, as well as its emphasis on refining communication styles to better persuade and influence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Communication Manager

Digital Marketing Manager

Digital Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns that use digital channels. This role would benefit from the course's focus on using a science-based approach to create impactful presentations.

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Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers develop and manage public relations campaigns for organizations. This role would benefit from the course's focus on refining communication styles to better persuade and influence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public relations manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead and motivate sales teams to achieve sales goals. This role would benefit from the course's focus on refining communication styles to better persuade and influence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Customer Success Manager

Customer Success Managers build and maintain relationships with customers to ensure their satisfaction. This role would benefit from the course's emphasis on applying communication principles and techniques for in-person and virtual teams.

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Team Leader

Team Leaders lead and motivate teams to achieve goals. This role would benefit from the course's focus on applying communication principles and techniques for in-person and virtual teams.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan and execute projects to achieve goals. This role would benefit from the course's focus on using a science-based approach to create impactful presentations.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers plan and execute operations to achieve goals. This role would benefit from the course's focus on applying communication principles and techniques for in-person and virtual teams.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business processes to identify areas for improvement. This role would benefit from the course's focus on using a science-based approach to create impactful presentations.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect and analyze data to identify trends and patterns. This role would benefit from the course's focus on using a science-based approach to create impactful presentations.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design and develop software applications. This role would benefit from the course's focus on using a science-based approach to create impactful presentations.

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Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites. This role would benefit from the course's focus on using a science-based approach to create impactful presentations.

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