Communications Simplified.

Module Plan

While speaking good English is key for communicators, good writing skills can safely be surmised as being far more important. It is the primary responsibility of the communicator to compile messaging, get it right, and communicate it in a creative, yet grammatically accurate manner. It is also, however, true that today’s educational systems and dependence on technology has turned this skill into a rare one.

1 Day Workshop. Learning is through worksheets and discussions supported with presentations.

Takeaways

• Learn strategies to remove the ‘fluff’ from your writing to create concise, clear content.
• Avoid common mistakes and learn how to use the Paramedic Method to edit your own work.
• Understand Paragraphing and its application to create cohesive content.
• Learn how to write effective Introductions and Conclusions.
• Relearn Basic Grammar and Punctuation rules—The essential Style Guide.

Who is this Module for?

Professionals who want to improve their English writing skills.

For more information on this module, send us an email.

Module Plan

Never has communicating for non-profits with its stakeholders been more crucial. Tightened donor budgets and an increased number of players have resulted in a stiff competition for funds. Moreover, one of the outputs donors blatantly ask for in return now is quality communication outputs. Meanwhile, the mandated CSR ruling has created the need for development communication to validate their presence.

Whether it is advocacy or fund raising, the underlying principle in development communication is a syntax and outputs used only by this sector.

2 Day Workshop. Learning is through open discussions, presentations, and work groups.

Takeaways

• Learn how to convert reports to policy briefs.
• Become familiar with how to draft effective concept notes and proposals for fund raising.
• Decode non-profits into creative stories for the print and new media.
• Generate rich content from the ground for social media.

Who is this Module for?

Development sector professionals, journalists, and content writers in the development space.

For more information on this module, send us an email.

Module Plan

Our workplace, customers, and suppliers are no longer localized. Globalization together with information technology has turned the world into a global village where business stakeholders now span continents. Whilst this has the potential to lead to substantially increased turnovers and profits, it also is prone to a plethora of communication risks which if not dealt with can lead to missed opportunities, misunderstandings, and prejudices.

Topics in this module cover critical verbal, written, and strategic communication skills in the workplace to help participants acquire that additional edge.

2 Day Workshop. Learning is through a variety of interactive and participative techniques, supported with presentations.

Takeaways

• Learn international communication frameworks: Lewis Model, High Context versus Low Context Cultures, Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions, and Erin Meyer’s Culture Map.
• Understand communication skills for doing business with America, Africa, China, and the Middle East.
• Craft effective emails and key messages using research-backed models.
• Master the perfect 30-second elevator pitch.
• One-on-one coaching on best practices in presentation skills.

Who is this Module for?

Senior and mid-level professionals.

For more information on this module, send us an email.

Module Plan

Research has a purpose, and for that it needs to be communicated effectively. Or it remains of no use. Conducting research and communicating research findings to relevant stakeholder groups, however, requires two opposing sets of skills. Hence, it is no surprise that the latter is often one of the most common challenges faced by academia.

Capacity building in research communications provides researchers with the necessary skills to effectively communicate the significance of their research to different stakeholder groups keeping the target audience in mind.

1 Day Workshop. Learning is through group work, presentations by participants, and open discussions.

Takeaways

• Use Business Storytelling as a tool to engage/ motivate/ influence an audience.
• Learn about Monroe’s Motivated Sequence and the Rhetorical Triangle as frameworks for persuasion: Problem solving and value addition.
• Discover skills and strategies that can be used to translate ideas/ data into compelling and relevant narratives.
• Gain insights on how to be an effective presenter to build a better connect and understanding between the research teams and its stakeholders.

Who is this Module for?

Researcher teams who need to communicate their research.

For more information on this module, send us an email.

Module Plan

While good public speaking skills can open doors, poor ones can close them. The good news is that speaking in public is a learnable skill! Becoming an effective presenter and public speaker is about understanding your audience, preparing your content, delivering confidently, and controlling the environment.

Using tried and tested principles on the effective use of ice breakers, visuals, story-telling, body language, and voice modulation, the module facilitates participants to become more confident and able communicators.

2 Day Workshop. Learning is through group work, role play, live recording, playbacks, and one-on-one feedback sessions.

Takeaways

• Learn strategies to become a better public speaker.
• Understand the impact of body language and voice modulation whilst presenting.
• Learn how to use visuals in presentations.
• Explore business storytelling for effective presentations and public speaking.
• Become familiar with the 5 presentation structures.

Who is this Module for?

Professionals who want to improve their presentation and public speaking skills.

For more information on this module, send us an email.

Module Plan

A brand is the total effect of an organization’s logo, products and services, brand names, public relations, promotional materials, and presentations—everything that represents the organization. It is as important as the products and services an organization provides and is the face and personality that is presented to the global community.

This module demonstrates the value added to a brand through conceptual backgrounds which link it to an organization’s vision and mission statements, branding guidelines, and brand translation.

1 Day Workshop. Learning is through case studies, presentations, open discussion, and group work.

Takeaways

• Discover the Art and Science of Fonts, Colours, Shapes, and Lines.
• Understand what a ‘brand’ is.
• Develop the ability to manage a brand effectively.
• Become conversant with the essentials of branding guidelines.

Who is this Module for?

Communication professionals.

For more information on this module, send us an email.

Module Plan

The thinktank, campaignstrategy.org, hits the nail on its head by stating campaigning is usually only done when all else has failed. They describe campaigns as: “It involves a conversation with society, persuading people to take an unusual interest in supporting a move that would not normally happen. It means setting up and sustaining processes that are not normal or ‘business as usual’.” In such a context the need to think and plan campaigns through, from beginning to end, becomes key to their success.

Very often a work plan is misconstrued for campaign design. This module aids participants to explore and understand the various elements which comprise campaign design, how media relations, social media, marketing plans and publicity literature fit into the overall plan, and diffusion strategies.

1 Day Workshop. Learning is through group work and presentations by participants.

Takeaways

• How to apply research for effective campaigns—keeping it real.
• Prof. Robert Cialdini’s 6 key principles of persuasion and influence.
• Learn how to segment audiences based on the Adoption Curve.
• Guided group exercise—Identify and map objectives, audiences, key messages, tools and tactics, budgets, timelines, evaluation methods, roles, and responsibilities.
• Group presentations accompanied with peer review using key indicators.

Who is this Module for?

Communication and marketing professionals.

For more information on this module, send us an email.