The Communication Triad

Communication is the foundation of relationships, and relationships are the foundation of teamwork.

Improving your team’s ability to communicate will always improve your team.

Our communication lessons will coach your team to encourage the heart, empower the mind, and equip the hands.

We will reinforce the importance for your team to connect, clarify, and commit. 

Our foundational lesson gives an overview of our approach to communication as well as the critical components to consider.

1.    The Critical Components of Communication

There are six fundamental questions that productive communication answers: who, what, when, where, why, and how. This lesson helps participants take a more in-depth look at each one. The first question, "who," communication answers by identifying the sender and receiver. The second question, "what," communication answers by identifying the message that is being sent. The third question, "when," communication answers by identifying the time at which the message was sent or received. The fourth question, "where," communication answers by identifying the location at which the message was sent or received. The fifth question, "why," communication answers by identifying the purpose of the message. And finally, the sixth question, "how," communication answers by identifying the mode of communication used. All of these questions are important components of communication and understanding them is essential to being an effective communicator.

These three lessons below emphasize communicating with the heart through encouragement and connection.

2.    The 5 Principles of Connecting with Others

Good communicators are also good connectors. They have a knack for putting people at ease and building relationships. This ability to connect with others is a valuable asset in any situation, whether you’re trying to influence a decision or simply get your point across. Connection goes beyond words; it’s a way of relating to others that engages the heart as well as the mind. When you connect with someone, you create a connection that can be a powerful tool for influence. Connection always requires energy; it’s not something that comes naturally. You have to be deliberate and intentional about it. But the investment is worth it, because connecting with others is one of the most effective ways to enhance communication. These principles hold true whether you’re communicating in person, on the phone, or through written words. Ultimately, this lesson reinforces the importance of connecting and how much of a difference it makes with communicating.

3.    The Communication Shift

In our fast-paced, constantly-connected world, it's more important than ever to know how to effectively influence and communicate with others. Oftentimes, the most successful people are those who are able to change their approach based on the situation. In this lesson, participants will learn how to make the shift from directing to connecting with others. This change can be difficult, but it is essential for those who want to grow and develop their communication skills. By connecting with others, you will be able to create meaningful relationships that can have a lasting impact. This shift will also promote new ideas and perspectives for your team, which can help them become more effective in their roles. With this new way of thinking, participants will be better equipped to influence and communicate with others in a positive way.

4.    Your Listening Assessment

In order to be successful in any endeavor, it is important to listen well. Listening involves not only hearing the words that are being said, but also taking the time to understand the message that is being communicated. When we listen with our whole hearts, we open ourselves up to truly connecting with others. Listening also allows us to reflect on our own thoughts and feelings, and to see things from another person's perspective. It is only through listening with an open mind that we can truly learn and grow. This lesson provides participants with a self-assessment and content about the importance of listening. By taking the time to listen deeply, we encourage understanding and communication, and create opportunities for personal and professional growth.

These next three lessons emphasize communicating with the head through empowerment and clarification.

5.    The Organizational Communication Audit

Communication is essential to the success of any organization, yet it can be difficult to determine how well your team is communicating. The Communication Audit can help you to evaluate your team's communication strengths and weaknesses. This audit can be given to the entire team, and it will assess different aspects of communication. Based on the results of the audit, you can make changes to improve communication within your organization. By taking the time to assess your team's communication skills, you can ensure that your organization is able to effectively communicate and achieve its goals.

6.    Communicating to Inspire

Good communication is essential to any team's success. When team members are able to inspire and empower each other, they can more effectively communicate and influence the direction of the team. This lesson will coach your team to think about what their teammates need to know, see, and feel as they communicate with each other. By understanding the needs of their teammates, team members can more effectively communicate their own ideas and inspire others to action. By empowering each other, team members can more effectively grasp and communicate your shared vision that will guide the team to success.

7.    Enhancing Your Partnership Capacity

In this lesson, we will explore the benefits of teamwork and collaboration. Specifically, we will focus on the 7 reflection questions for building a partnership mindset. These questions can help us to understand how to best work with others in order to achieve common goals. By emphasizing the importance of making the intentional choice to collaborate with others, we can learn how to better partner with others in order to create successful teams. Ultimately, by learning how to effectively collaborate, we can set ourselves up for greater success both personally and professionally.

(For teams that have already taken the CliftonStrengths assessment, a bonus resource will be provided on How to Use Each Strength to Communicate Effectively.)

These last three lessons emphasize communicating with the hands through equipping and commitment.

8.    How to Lead a Difficult Conversation

A difficult conversation is one that we all dread having. It's the kind of conversation that makes your heart rate spike and your palms sweat. You know it's going to be uncomfortable, but you also know that it's necessary. The good news is, there are ways to handle difficult conversations effectively. This lesson will walk your team through several roadmaps and frameworks on how to do just that. By the end, they'll be equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to inspire action and bring about positive change. So, if you're ready to tackle those difficult conversations head-on, this lesson is for you.

9.    How to Coach for Enhanced Performance

In any work environment, it is important to set high standards and hold everyone accountable in order to achieve enhanced performance. This lesson tackles the topics of expectations and accountability, care and candor, as well as growth and mastery. Each of these topics is essential in creating a culture of excellence. By setting high standards and holding people accountable, we can push ourselves to new levels of achievement. However, this must be done in a way that is caring and candid, with a focus on growth and mastery. Only then can we create an environment in which everyone can thrive. This lesson will teach you how to set high expectations and hold yourself and others accountable in order to equip others for enhanced performance.

10.                  The 5 Stages of Equipping

There are many different approaches that can be taken when teaching someone a new skill, but one of the most effective is the coaching model. This approach involves equipping the learner with the knowledge and tools they need to be successful, and then providing ongoing support and guidance as they practice using the new skill. One of the key advantages of this approach is that it helps to build confidence and commitment. The learner feels supported and motivated to keep practicing, which ultimately leads to greater success. If you're looking for a practical system for equipping others with any skill, the 5 Stages of Equipping are definitely worth considering. This lesson takes you through a practical system for equipping others with any skill, including communication.

Learning Objectives for The Communication Triad

Participants will be able to:

·       Engage in multiple interactive lessons about communication.

·       Exhibit effective interpersonal communication in a variety of settings.

·       Discuss the critical components of communication.

·       Effectively assess and apply active listening skills.

·       Perceive how to focus on connecting instead of directing.

·       Gain information about other individuals through communication.

·       Demonstrate respect for others' viewpoints.

·       Build a context of understanding through communication.

·       Maintain proper eye contact while communicating interpersonally.

·       Learn how to inspire others through communication.

·       Complete our Organizational Communication Audit.

·       Develop self-awareness about their style of interpersonal communication.

·       Exhibit de-escalatory behaviors in situations of conflict.

·       Discover how to equip others for enhanced performance.

·       Give critical feedback effectively.

·       Receive, and reflect on, critical feedback from others.

·       Demonstrate acknowledgment and validation of the feelings, opinions, and contributions of others.