2. Influence Series

Communicating with Impact

2.1 Communication Essentials

Most workplace problems are really communication problems in disguise. This workshop lays the groundwork for high-trust, high-impact conversations by unpacking how communication actually works—and what gets in the way of clarity, connection, and collaboration.

  • Notice when communication has broken down—and take responsibility to make it clearer, not messier.

    • Communication theory (encoding/decoding model)

    • Common workplace conversation types and pitfalls

    • Barriers to communication: culture, bias, assumptions, noise

    • Psychological safety and perception in diverse teams

    • Prevent miscommunication by acknowledging and addressing where it can break down

    • Identify trust-damaging communication patterns and shift to more effective ones

    • Recognize how assumptions and unconscious bias shape your perception

    •  Improve collaboration with people who communicate differently from you

    • What makes workplace communication succeed—or fail—especially in diverse, remote, or cross-functional teams?

    • How does the communication process work, and where do things tend to go off the rails?

    • What invisible barriers get in the way of clear communication—and how can I spot and navigate them?

2.2 Deep Listening

Most of us think we’re better listeners than we actually are. This workshop challenges participants to listen more deeply—helping leaders build the kind of presence that makes people feel truly heard, understood, and supported, ultimately leading to stronger team performance.

  • Listen to understand—not just to respond.

    • Levels of Listening (Adapted from Otto Scharmer)

    • Barriers to listening

    • Active listening tools: paraphrasing, reflecting, silence and pause, and curiosity

    • Identify your personal listening barriers and shift into deeper presence by being aware of your listening barriers and minimizing

    • Use active listening to strengthen coaching, check-ins, and feedback conversations

    • Recognize emotional and contextual cues by listening at multiple levels

    • Build connection and reduce rework by creating space for clarity and reflection

    • What barriers get in the way of listening to others?

    • Why is listening so essential in everyday conversations?

    • How can I practice listening more deeply?

2.3 Understanding your Communication Style

This workshop shines a light on your natural workstyle and communication preferences using the Insights Discovery toolkit so you can stop communicating on autopilot and start building real connections. Participants gain insight into their natural strengths, potential blind spots, and how to collaborate more effectively with others.

  • Know and own your preferences while staying curious about others.

    • Self-awareness and emotional intelligence in leadership

    • Workstyle and communication styles using Insights Discovery (primary tool)

    • Alternative frameworks as needed (e.g. CoreStrengths, MBTI)

    • The science of perception and critical thinking models (Ladder of Inference)

    • Creating a shared team language to enhance collaboration

    • Identify your personal communication style and how it shows up in your work

    • Reflect on how your preferences shape your team dynamics and decisions

    • Increase empathy and adaptability in how you work with diverse styles

    • Use a shared language to understand and navigate interpersonal friction

    • What are my work style and communication preferences?

    • What other work styles and communication preferences are there aside from my own?

    • What do my preferences tell me about my strengths?

    • What do my preferences tell me about my blind spots and opportunities for development?

2.4 Clear and Kind: The Art of Everyday Communication

Everyday communication shapes how we work together—whether motivating others, sharing changes, running a meeting, or tackling a tough conversation. This module helps you make your messages land with clarity and kindness by adapting to your audience, structuring your ideas, and building trust in the moment.

  • Balance candor and care when you communicate.

    • Clear + Kind (Brene Brown)

    • Radical Candor model (Kim Scott)

    • Adaptive communication styles (Insights Discovery) and emotional intelligence

    • Conversation intent types (informing, clarifying, problem-solving, feedback, decision-making)

    • Messaging frameworks: Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF), What–So What–Now What

    • Adapt your communication style based on audience, intent, and setting

    • Apply communication frameworks to improve clarity and reduce misinterpretation

    • Balance candor and care in everyday conversations

    • Stay present and non-defensive when emotions run high

    • Reduce avoidance by building confidence to say the hard thing, the right way

    • How can I tailor my message and tone to better connect with different audiences?

    • How does the purpose of a conversation shape how I approach it?

    • How can I practice communicating clearly and with kindness?

2.5 Everyday Negotiations

Negotiation isn’t just for boardrooms or big deals—it happens every day in conversations, emails, and meetings. This workshop gives you the tools to navigate competing demands, clarify expectations, and set boundaries without damaging relationships.

  • Deliver a clear, engaging message in under a minute that captures attention and drives action.

    • Top 10 Elements of Compelling Communication

    • Start With Why (Simon Sinek): anchor openings/CTAs in purpose to boost relevance and recall.

    • AIM-C (Audience • Intent • Message • Call-to-Action)

    • BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

    • Deliver punchy updates and intros (30–60s) in meetings, briefings, and

    • networking settings.

    • Prepare important messages in < 10 minutes

    • Apply key delivery practices to real presentations.

    • What specific elements make a message compelling (and how can I spot them)?

    • How do I design a tight 30–60 second pitch of my idea that’s clear, memorable, and audience-centered?

    • Which one delivery skill should I improve first—and how will I practice it?

2.6 Compelling Communication

Compelling communication isn’t an accident, it’s designed. In this hands-on module, participants decode world-class communicators and practice high-impact micro-talks (elevator pitches) to solve the everyday problem of messages that don’t land or inspire action.

  • Navigate competing needs by offering clear choices, not ultimatums.

    • Interests vs. positions

    • Core components of negotiation (prepare, open, bargain, close)

    • Choice-based communication and trade-off language

    • “Negotiation no-no’s” and recovery strategies

    • Clarify expectations and roles with teammates, peers, and leaders

    • Set respectful boundaries without damaging trust or tone

    • Offer options and explain trade-offs to manage competing demands

    • Recognize and avoid language that creates defensiveness or confusion

    • What is negotiation (and what isn’t it), and when should I use it in my everyday work?

    • What common pitfalls derail negotiations, and how can I avoid them?

    • How can I negotiate in real time—balancing competing needs and setting boundaries using choice-based communication?

2.7 Adapting to Different Audiences

Your message only matters if it lands. This module helps you quickly “read the room,” recognize communication preferences (including Insights energy colours), and adapt your message, medium, and pace so ideas resonate across levels, functions, and roles.

  • Consider and adapt your communication style to connect with different communication preferences and needs.

    • Implications of communicating in today’s digitally-driven work environment: shorter attention spans, less time, more noise and platforms

    • Recognizing Types (preferred Insights Discovery psychometric energy colour)

    • Strategies to flex your communication

    • Knee-to-Knee activity to practice adapting to different types

    • Influence up by preparing presentations that land with senior leaders and executives

    • Adapt what you present based upon your audience

    • How are audiences different from each other in today’s digitally-driven workforce ? How are they the same?

    • How do I recognize different communication preferences?

    • How do I adapt my communication to connect with a wide range of preferences, functions and roles?

2.8 Data Visualization (Presenting Data Effectively)

Data only creates impact when it’s clear. This module shows you how to cut through the noise by turning complex numbers into simple, audience-centered visuals and headlines that highlight what matters most and drive action.

  • Start every data communication by writing the takeaway title first, then pick the chart, remove clutter, and highlight the one thing that matters.

    • BLUF for data (headline-as-takeaway + one key number)

    • Chart choice (comparison, distribution, trend, composition)

    • Decluttering (remove nonessential ink; emphasize signal)

    • Pre-attentive attributes (where to look and why)

    • Audience tailoring (technical vs. general; layered messaging)

    • Inclusive design (readability, contrast, labels, plain language)

    • Data visualization checklist: BLUF, chart choice, declutter, highlight, accessibility

    • Build presentations that convert into clear actionable items

    • Convert a dense report into a one-chart summary with a takeaway title and clear call-to-action.

    • Build two versions of a slide: Executive (general) with headlines and decisions, and Technical with method notes and assumptions.

    • What’s the one-sentence takeaway my audience needs – and which visual best supports it?

    • How do I declutter visuals and use key design attributes to direct attention?

    • How do I tailor content for different audiences to ensure resonance and impact?

    • How do I design inclusive visuals that engage diverse audiences?

2.9 Storytelling to Influence

People may forget your slides, but they’ll remember your story. In this module, participants learn to frame real initiatives through a clear story arc (using the Hero’s Journey) and design a memorable “Something They’ll Always Remember” (STAR) moment that sticks—then bring it home with a one-slide data visual that drives a decision.

  • Start every high-stakes message with a story spine and plan a single STAR moment plus a clear ask.

    • Hero’s Journey (leader as guide; citizen/team as hero)

    • Story Spine / Pixar pitch (Once upon a time… → Until finally…)

    • STAR moment (Something They’ll Always Remember)

    • Ethos/Logos/Pathos via David JP Phillips (“Magical Science of Storytelling”) - how credibility + logic + emotion shape memorable narratives.

    • Build persuasive business cases, town-hall updates, and budget asks that people remember and act on.

    • How do I structure a compelling narrative using a clear story arc for a real initiative?

    • What is a STAR moment and how do I design one?

    • Bonus: How do I integrate one key chart or visual to reinforce the story without derailing clarity?

Add Ons

2.10 Structuring a Compelling Proposal or Presentation

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