Soft Skills for IT Pros

TW11 Fast Focus: The Compelling Communicator

August 5th, 2020

2:00pm - 2:20pm

Level: Intermediate Advanced

Elizabeth Ruiz

Communication & Leadership Consultant, Trainer, and Speaker

EAR Leadership Academy

The ability to communicate simply, clearly and with confidence, in an engaging, influential and persuasive way, is a key competency for leaders. Understanding the audience and using words and language effectively is critical, whether written or spoken. However, as emerging leaders gain proficiency in their areas of expertise they often don't recognize the subtle shift in emphasis on their ability to communicate effectively with different audiences through multiple channels. Framing the message and then translating it through writing and verbal delivery is a skill and competency developed through awareness, preparation and practice.

In this session, participants learn the foundational communication skills leaders need today to effectively inform, engage, motivate and inspire stakeholders through a variety of written and spoken exercises. The first part focuses on written communications, emphasizing audience-framed messaging and developing simple, clear and persuasive content. The second part transitions to enhancing spoken delivery and presentation skills. Participants gain experience in developing compelling and engaging slide presentations using visualization and data that address audience needs.

You will learn:

  • Design and deliver effective presentations
  • Present data cogently to diverse audiences
  • Develop better listening skills and handle Q&A effectively