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Communication is a dynamic skill with patterns established at an early age and thus to learn a new way of talking ...and be able to maintain it/ switch it on and off as required necessitates study of theory and practice, in speech/voice. It is the same as training or re-training any individual to learn a new skill or improve their performance in for instance athletics.
Improving communication...something we take for granted is a challenging, complex and intensive journey...old habits die hard…. we speak and communicate for the majority of our waking hours, without supervision...so a tutor/coach can not work miracles in isolation...high levels of motivation to change, time and energy are required from the student if lasting change and proficiency in speech manner is to be achieved.
Human Communication is a complex cognitive and physical process so students need to be prepared to commit to study of theory, and homework/practice if results are to be achieved .The coaching relationship is a partnership.
It is absolutely possible to change communication and it will probably be the best move you ever made in term of the benefits and rewards proven to result from effective skilled communication.
Personal, social and occupational prospects will improve, and you will have a toolkit that, once learned, will shape your future for the better
The length of time it will take to achieve lasting and natural communication improvement will depend on how much change is required, for what communication function, for how long and how often the 'new' way of speaking is needed...We all know of the ability of most people to change 'register' when on an important phone call, when giving a presentation, or trying to impress at interview.
We modulate our voices constantly without thought... when relaxing and chatting with mates, when talking to very young infants or elderly people, when conversing with foreign language speakers
So....of course change is possible...with the right help, assessment, awareness raising, targeted practice, practical and theoretical teaching, and exercise of the newly taught speech skills in different environments.
It is possible to teach a foundation over a short course however to fully ensure lasting and automatic use of new techniques in situ, ongoing weekly input /mentoring is advised until we agree you have reached goals set at the beginning of intervention, you feel comfortable using your new communication techniques automatically and naturally; in most places, with most people, most of the time.
A quick fix is not an option with communication change as it basically results in unnatural’ acting’, and people forget to use new skills, reverting to habit and old communication practices.
There are four stages to go through in communication/skill development
- Unconscious incompetence
- Conscious incompetence (the stage when people seek expert help)
- Conscious competence (learning new skills)
- Unconscious competence (natural competent communication change)
Changing the way you speak is difficult, can feel embarrassing, awkward, and like breaking a well engrained habit. However the results and rewards are more than worth the journey!
Communication is close to our hearts and communication breakdown can devastate. Communication success can literally win us friends and influence people.
Unfortunately the saying is true, ''You never get a second chance to make a first impression''.
Communication CAN be taught. its a skill, it can be broken down into bite size chunks, and there are scientifically proven therapy training and coaching techniques that (if followed carefully) can bring incredible gains to your personal and professional life.
Components of Communication Coaching
Communication is multi-dimensional in nature, and dynamic. With all the separate elements coming together to produce communication ‘signals’.
It is functionally impossible in coaching to separate strands of communication work, as the message and its delivery and reception are affected by interlinked and co-dependent factors including mood, emotional control, health, intelligence, self awareness, goal of communicate (intent),listeners needs and attitude, and function of interaction.
The first phase of your communication coaching will always focus on your individual speech/language/communication issue, and on comprehensively scoping the depth and breadth of your current baseline, and goals in relation to the expressed goal….e.g. accent removal, pronunciation etc.
The next step is to gain a detailed knowledge of normal and desirable communication practice and social interaction.
Then to practice it in coaching and real life, bringing all aspects of lessons learned in coaching, together for maximum impact!
In order for you to actually change one aspect we need to unravel and deal with other aspects of communication as they interact. If you are working on clear speech to impress at interview, for example, it’s no use having poor social skills, or poor body language because of an omission in coaching course content.
Choose a pathway to suit you!
- Receptive and Expressive Communication
- Verbal and non verbal communication
- Manner ,level and pace of communication
- Language form, content and use
- Elocution
- Speech articulation
- Pronunciation
- Clarity of delivery
- Uses of pitch, intonation, rhythm and rate
- Fluency (stammering)
- Accent softening/reduction
- Voice use/therapy and training. - Avoiding vocal abuse!
- Grammar and correct use of language.
- Appropriate language for business/social and personal contexts
- Conversational skills-win win interactions
- Personal effectiveness through Breakthrough conversation models
- Models of Communication/Introduction to processes of verbal/non verbal communication
- The ‘speech chain’ from thought to sentence
- Emotional intelligence and ‘literacy’
- Social interaction skills
- Networking
- Influencing people/negotiation skill
- Assertiveness, conflict avoidance and resolution
- Active listening techniques
- Social conversational skills
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Interview skills
- Telephone conversation skills
- Email and written/electronic business communications
- Presentation skills
- Learning styles
- Facilitation skills
- Teaching, coaching and mentoring skills
- Project management
- Business analysis tools
- Facilitation skills
- I.T. communication systems and integrated IT
- Speech disorders
- Communication technology needs
