Interpersonal, Communication Skills & Building Relationships

Relevant Programmes

Active Listening Skills

Facilitator: George Nagle, Student Counselling & Development

Overview

This 1.5 hour interactive workshop will look at different aspects of how we listen & communicate. Participants will explore the different techniques & traits of how we listen, why we listen & how we can all improve our listening & communication styles.

The workshop will bring attendees up to speed with & help to develop their undertsanding of:

Listening
Active Listening
Empathic Listening
Body Language
Open Questions
Closed Questions

Feedback from past particpants includes:

I found the course to be concise and very effective using practical examples to demonstrate points

Very good course - makes you think about how you reallyy listen to people

Communicating with Impact for All Staff

Participant Group: All UCC Staff

Facilitator: Reg Friddle, Preferred Future Training

Overview

It is the method and impact of our communication that defines our reputation and value in the minds of others. Honing our communication skill set is one of the most important ways of enhancing our ability to work well. On this practical and enjoyable course, you will leave with the confidence and practical skills to communicate clearly and effectively with managers, staff, students and stakeholders.

Approach

This 2.5-hour course will:

Integrate the UCC values and competencies
Be interactive and practical
Be delivered virtually

Pre-work

a) Communication style self-assessment exercise to help delegates to identify their personal preferences for communication.

b) MS Forms short online survey to gauge delegate goals, communication strengths and challenges related to communication

Learning outcomes

At the end of this focused, interactive and practical workshop, you will have:

A greater understanding of your own preferences and style of communication
An appreciation of different styles of communication that may differ from your own
Strategies for adapting and flexing your communication style to meet the needs of your audience
A structure that you can use to communicate more effectively with others
A focused action plan that you can take away and apply immediately

Past participant feedback:

Excellent course, excellent trainer, really engaging.

I honestly thoroughly enjoyed the programme & it was very beneficial.

All staff would benefit from this course. We need to move out of our comfort zone more often!

Communicating with Impact for Managers and Leaders

Participant Group: All UCC Staff

Facilitator: Reg Friddle, Preferred Future Training

Overview

It is the method and impact of our communication that defines our reputation and value in the minds of others. Honing our communication skill set is one of the most important ways of enhancing our ability to work well. On this practical and enjoyable course, you will leave with the confidence and practical skills to communicate clearly and effectively with managers, staff, students and stakeholders.

Approach

This 2.5-hour course will:

Integrate the UCC values and competencies
Be interactive and practical
Be delivered virtually

Pre-work

a) Delegates will be asked to view a short piece of e-learning video content on the Insights Discovery psychometric model

b) Completion of a communication styles questionnaire related to the Insights Discovery psychometric model which they will be asked to bring to the training session

c) MS Forms short online survey to gauge delegate goals, communication strengths and management/ leadership challenges related to communication

Learning outcomes

At the end of this focused, interactive and practical workshop, you will have:

A greater understanding of your own preferences and style of leadership and management communication, using the Insights Discovery psychometric model
Awareness if how the team communication triangle (goals, roles, productive team norms) can be used to enhance team communication, including communicating virtually
Formulated practical ways to enhance the way you communicate both face-to-face and in virtual work environments
Devised a communication plan to connect more consciously with those you lead/ manage

Past participant feedback:

"Excellent course, excellent trainer, really engaging."
"I honestly thoroughly enjoyed the programme & it was very beneficial."
All staff would benefit from this course. We need to move out of our comfort zone more often!"

Communicating Effectively in Difficult Situations

Facilitator: Reg Friddle, Preferred Future

Overview

This interactive and engaging course will ensure that delegates leave with:

• A foundation knowledge of the Duty of Respect and Right to Dignity Policy
• The practical skills to communicate clearly and assertively when encountering difficult situations
• The confidence to have ‘difficult’ conversations with others
• Practical skills in making potentially “difficult conversations” less “difficult"

Developing Positive and Assertive Communication Skills

Facilitators: Anne Gannon, HR, & Brenda Nestor, UCC Careers Services

Taking a practical and involved approach, through discussion and various activities, this workshop will enable participants to both identify and practice the skills and approaches which enable assertive communication.

Topics covered include: recognising assertive behaviour, identifying the verbal and non-verbal messages that accompany assertive and other forms of communication, exploring 10 assertiveness techniques as well as planning and delivering assertive communications.

Email Communication

Participant Group: All UCC Staff

Facilitator: Sarah Marriott, Plain English

Overview

On completion of this workshop, you will:

Be able to write emails with greater speed, confidence and effectiveness
Have the skills to plan and write emails that

Respond to the needs of recipients and achieve objectives
Use an appropriately professional tone of voice
Are clear, concise, well-structured and readable

Understand how to use plain English in external communications (in preparation for the Government’s planned plain language legislation)

Take 90 minutes... to learn more about Emotional Intelligence

Participant Group: All Staff

Date: Semester 1, 2020

Facilitator: Mary Horgan

Learning Outcomes

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

Define emotional intelligence
Understand why it is worth developing
Reflect on the Growth mindset v the Fixed Mindset
Examine different areas of EQ-i

Engaging with People who are Angry, Anxious or Panicked

Provider: George Nagle, Student Counselling & Development

In this workshop, you will learn about anger, anxiety and panic attacks. In addition you will learn how to understand and empathise with people who are angry, anxious or having panic attacks while also learning how to engage and communicate helpfully and safely.

Take 60 minutes... to explore approaches to personal resilience and wellbeing

Participant Group: All Staff

Location: Remotely

Date: Semester 1, 2020

Facilitator: Dr Anne Gannon

Learning Outcomes

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

Identify the five essential elements that should be in place to experience wellbeing
Reflect on what we need to do to be fulfilled and to enhance our personal wellbeing

Take 90 minutes.... to know yourself & how you work (MBTI)

Participant Group: All Staff

Date: Semester 1, 2020

Facilitator: Mary Horgan

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop you will be able to:

Consider individual differences & their impact in the workplace
Learn how your personality influences the way in which you work
Explore how to appreciate and leverage on our differences for improved team working
Reflect on strategies for better engagement with team colleagues

The option to do an online MBTI questionnaire and discuss one to one with a qualified practitioner will be available to all participants on completion of the workshop.

Staff feedback

Excellent training session which I know will benefit me & my team!

Became more self aware & conscious of others differences & similarities.

Will definitely recommend this workshop to my colleagues.

Got a really good understanding that there is no 'right' or 'wrong' and how different types can be very beneficial for a team/project.

Take 60 minutes... to learn how to approach communications when we're not physically present

Participant Group: All Staff

Location: Remotely

Date: Semester 1, 2020

Facilitator: Dr Anne Gannon

Learning Outcomes

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

Reflect on the value of different types of team communications media and their effectiveness in the remote workplace
Have greater self-awareness around the approach, content and tone of different types of communications
Reflect on communication etiquette and best professional practice when working remotely

SPEAK Programme - Digital Badge

Successful Presentations- Effectively Articulating Knowledge (SPEAK)

Time: 16.00 - 1700

Facilitators: UCC Skills Centre

To Apply: Email traininganddevelopment@ucc.ie, outlining why this Presentation Skills programme is relevant to you in your role (400 word limit).

One must attend all six sessions in order to obtain the digital badge.

The SPEAK Programme is delivered over a 6-week period (Tuesdays 4-5pm, beginning 12th January 2021) by the UCC Skills Centre and is specifically designed for staff who are anxious and lacking in confidence in giving presentations. Each session will deliver a specific element of presentation skills, allowing the participant to become aware of the broad spectrum of performance in everyday life. Participants will develop specific techniques to enhance presentation skills and visual communication. These techniques include:

the development of an expanded range of physical and vocal expressivity,
expanded approaches to audience awareness and
increased awareness of non-verbal and non-physical communication.

Learning outcomes: Identify the core elements of an effective presentation; Effectively use the voice, body, and the performing space to best engage with an audience; Use a combination of improvisation, scripting, and storyboarding to effectively deliver a message to an audience; Design excellent visuals that effectively engage with the message delivery; Be more confident in the delivery of a presentation.

Six sessions

Presentation skills overview and the barriers to effective communication
Authenticity in Performance
Stage Presence
Storytelling
Digital Skills Maker
Peer review presentations

Participant Feedback

I enjoyed the course very much, everyone was supportive to each other and the facilitator was very knowledgeable.
The facilitator was reassuring and very personable
Overall a fabulous course, co-ordinators and content

The UCC Effective Employee Programme

Participant Group: All Staff

Facilitators: Staff Wellbeing & Development & HR Business Managers

Individuals who attend at least 6 Effective Employee workshops within an 18 month period & complete a short reflective statement (600-word limit) will be awarded The Effective Employee Digital Badge. The reflective statement should discuss the learnings which the participant has taken away from the workshops & applied to their own work practice. Reflective statements should be returned to traininganddevelopment@ucc.ie. This badge recognises the personal and professional development journey taken by UCC staff in focusing on personal effectiveness skills.

The Effective Employee Programme 2020-2021

Programme Overview

The Effective Employee programme consists of 2.5 hour sessions facilitated by Staff Wellbeing & Development & HR Managers. Taking place one Tuesday monthly, the sessions are designed to provide specific work-related knowledge, guidance & practical skills enhancement to staff members across UCC. The workshops cover a wide range of areas and aim to support UCC staff in working effectively in the University. Each month a new topic is explored. The sessions provide support for UCC staff through the sharing of information, the provision of guidance and clarity together with the opportunity for skills and knowledge development. The programme also provides opportunities to network with colleagues across the university.

Feedback from UCC Staff Members:

Thank you very much for an excellent workshop on Tuesday last from which I derived great benefit! I have developed a new network from this workshop and I have had a very fruitful conversation with my line manager in relation to opportunities for developing my role.

Thank you for the very useful session which I feel had a very positive impact and will assist me in my day to day work.

You can book your place via My Training @ https://ess.ucc.ie

The Successful Team Leader Programme

Participant Group: Team Leaders in academic, professional and research areas

Duration: 10:00-12:30

Facilitators: UCC HR Managers

Individuals who attend at least 6 workshops in the Successful Team Leader programme within an 18 month period and complete a short reflective statement (600-word limit) describing the learning which they have taken back from these workshops in their approach to work will be awarded The Successful Team Leader Digital Badge. This badge recognises the personal and professional development journey taken by UCC staff in focusing on personal effectiveness skills.

The Successful Team Leader Programme 2020-2021

*Attendance at 6 workshops combined from the two programmes can count toward the attainment of the digital badge.

Overview:

The Successful Team Leader takes place monthly from September to May. It comprises of short (2.5 hour) sessions, facilitated by HR Managers & designed to provide specific work-related knowledge, guidance and practical skills enhancement to Team Leaders across UCC. The workshops cover a wide range of areas designed to support line managers in successful HR management. Each month a new a new topic is explored. The sessions are interactive and practical in approach. They are intended to provide support for managers through the sharing of information and guidance, and the opportunity for skills and knowledge development. The programme also provides opportunities to network with colleagues across the university.

Feedback:

This session was excellent and I would highly recommend it along with the sessions I attended previously. Please continue to provide these sessions as they are an invaluable resource for those developing in management roles and those in management roles dealing with a new issue for the first time.

I found this programme very beneficial and feel more confident as a manager now to deal with issues as they arise. It was very useful to be able to speak to the group and the HR presenters for advice and guidance. I would really recommend this course.

I really enjoyed the course and have taken away some excellent strategies that I can put to use immediately.

I found it very informative – an eye-opener! It has certainly made me look at managing change in a whole new light.

You can book your place via My Training @ https://ess.ucc.ie

Unconscious Bias Awareness

Participant Group: All UCC Staff

Facilitators: Anne Gannon & Mary Horgan, Human Resources

Currently we offer two types of training: a) a shorter ‘Take 90 minutes…’ introduction to Unconscious Bias, and b) a more comprehensive 2.5 hour workshop.

Unconscious biases play a role in our day to day decision making, even though we are often completely unaware of their influence. Our biases are often informed by our own backgrounds, experiences, & cultural environments. This Unconscious Bias Awareness workshop looks at:

Diversity & Inclusion
The nature of unconscious bias
How it works including affinity, confirmation bias & group think
The impact of unconscious bias
Strategies & tips for managing unconscious bias

Feedback from previous participants:

Very interesting and engaging

Excellent Session

Very enjoyable workshop

Very good and thought provoking

Take 60 minutes .... to learn how to use DISC to understand your style and others

Participant Group: All Staff

Location: Remotely

Date: Semester 1, 2020

Facilitator: Dr Anne Gannon

Learning Outcomes

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

Identify behavioural styles and preferred ways of approaching work
Get to know what makes yourself and others "tick," and learn how to get the most from yourself and team colleagues
Reflect on how to tailor your own approach when working with others

Working Effectively Across Cultures

Details to follow

Facilitator: Marie Therese Shortt, CulturePro

This workshop provides participants with an understanding of different cultural dimensions and communication styles that require attention – and often leads to conflict or miscommunication – when working in culturally diverse organisations/teams. As well as providing fundamental theoretical knowledge, it provides participants with frameworks, exercises and tools for better understanding cultural differences. Topics include social hierarchies, directness, behaviour & etiquette, and gender roles. Through a learner-centred approach, using visual material, group exercises and role play, participants are provided with tools and frameworks to increase their cultural awareness and help them better understand and respond to colleagues of different cultural backgrounds.

Learning Outcomes

Have a basic competency in cultural awareness and cultural differences
Have an insight into theories and tools to become culturally competent
Understand how to reduce intercultural misunderstanding and improve cross-cultural working relationships

Writing for different forms of media

Participant Group: All UCC Staff

Facilitator: Sarah Marriott, Plain English

Overview

On successful completion of this workshop, you’ll be able to:

Feel confident you can create strong, readable, polished documents
Write with clarity, simplicity and brevity
Plan and write effectively – by focusing on target audiences and objectives
Identify and avoid common errors of grammar
Edit more efficiently
See how to use plain English in external communications (in preparation for the Government’s planned plain language legislation)