Effective and efficient communication in academia and beyond

Do you find it difficult getting your message across? Do you not always get the response you had expected? Do you find it difficult to deal with misunderstanding and moreover conflict? Interestingly enough the manner in which people react to what others have to say depends on the way in which the message is brought across and how receptive people are to receive this communication. In other words it depends on the behaviour and communication style we express when communicating. Apart from our personality, these are determined by the context we operate, our culture and background. Getting insight into these aspects, and knowing when to communicate in which manner, help us to communicate in an effective manner and prevent miscommunication. 

This course will focus on:

• The different communication styles
• What your predominant communication styles are
• How to communicate in an effective way
• How to solve and prevent miscommunication.

After this training you will be able to:

• Listen actively and have positive interaction
• Give and receive feedback effectively
• Identify communication styles and interactive patterns
• Present your message in a clear and effective way
• Identify and handling miscommunication and conflicts

The course consists of a combination of lectures, discussions, exercises and role-plays

General Information

Target Group:	PhD's and Postdocs
Group size:	A minimum of 10 and maximum of 12 participants
Course duration:	4 days (2 full days + 2 half days)
Language:	English
Credit points:	1.0 ECTS
Self-study hours:
Name lecturer:	Jessica Tummers (Meijer & Meijaard) and Claudius van de Vijver (Graduate School PE&RC)
Venue:	Wageningen University, Wageningen Campus, Droevendaalsesteeg, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Note: Room and building will be communicated with registered and confirmed participants about one week before the start of the course.

Programme

Before the course:
Participants are asked to defining (personal) learning targets and send them to the course leaders

Day 1 (09:00-16:30): Your Communication

• Introduction
• What is communication and why is it important?
• Miscommunication (causes and effects)
• Communication styles

Day 2 (09:00-16:30): The basis of good communication & how to improve your communication

• The basic rules of effective communication
• Your communication style in different contexts
• Asking questions
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Improving your own communication

Day 3 (09:00-12:30): Tackling Challenges

• Tackling communication challenges
• Making a SMART plan of action to tackle the challenge

Day 4 (09:00-12:00): Feedback session on how things are going

• Presentations and reflection on plan of action
• Synthesis

Fee

Reduced fee: • PhD candidates of Wageningen University with an approved Training and Supervision Plan (TSP) who are registered at one of the WU graduate schools (EPS, PE&RC, VLAG, WASS, WIAS, WIMEK) • Postdocs of Wageningen University who are registered at one of the WU graduate schools	€ 275
University fee: All other PhD candidates / Wageningen University postdocs and staff	€ 550
External fee: All other participants	€ 1100

Fee includes study and training material, coffee/tea and lunches.

Cancellation condition

You may cancel free of charge up to three weeks before the start of the course. After this date you will be charged the University fee. Unless:

• You can find someone to replace you in the course and supply the course coordinator with the name and contact information of your replacement.
  In this case you will only be charged a € 50,- cancellation fee.
• You (PhDs and postdocs of Wageningen University) have a valid reason to cancel (illness or death in the family 1st or 2nd degree).
  In this case you will be charged the reduced fee and your supervisor/PI must send a mail indicating the reason for cancellation.

Information

For more information please contact anja.mosselman@wur.nl.