Boost your impact at work 💪
Would you like to get more from workplace communication? You might need to:
- present ideas in a clear and confident way
- influence colleagues and get buy-in from leaders
- speak off the cuff
Nobody was born with effective communication skills. You need to learn techniques, practise with others and get feedback. An expert coach can see where you’re blocked and show you where to focus.
Our live online course is the most convenient way to boost your impact, for three reasons:
- Short, online sessions. The course includes 4 × 2-hour sessions over two weeks, which:
- suit Europe / Africa / America timezones
- can fit around other commitments
- Learn in a small group. Each session is led by communication coach Jonathan Kahn. With a maximum
of 10 people there’s time to:
- learn a playbook of techniques, from listening to leadership
- get individual guidance and feedback
- Practise in the workplace. Apply what you learn in real life while the course is happening:
- try out skills in the workplace between sessions
- report back on progress, then get guidance to hone your technique
You’ll take away new approaches and a fresh perspective.
Clients include:
What are live online courses?
Live online courses show you how to apply communication skills to real-world contexts. You’ll learn via Zoom with a small group and an expert coach. There’s time to:
- learn and practise techniques
- play out workplace scenarios
- identify your goals and what’s blocking them
You’ll leave with a playbook of approaches that you can apply to any situation. You’ll know what to practise and feel confident to get back to work.
Skills we’ll cover 📋
The course starts with a grounding in core skills, including:
- listening skills
- storytelling (public speaking)
- leadership styles
- effective feedback
Let’s take each one in turn.
Listening skills
Effective communication isn’t just getting your message across. It needs to be two-way. That’s why listening is the most important skill. Learn active listening, the Swiss Army Knife of communication:
- focus on someone else’s point of view, even when you don’t know the subject
- use it to understand, connect or build trust
Storytelling (public speaking)
Storytelling is a way to construct a message so it’s relevant to your audience. Use it when you need to stand in front of people and share your ideas. For example, a conference talk or a weekly team update. Learn to:
- create narratives that capture people’s attention and inspire action
- address people’s concerns and convey your message at the same time
Leadership styles
Leadership isn’t all fancy job titles and big decisions. It’s also about showing people that you know your stuff—and understand their needs. Which is why leadership styles matter for everyone, from new starters to chief execs:
- show confidence in your abilities while listening to people’s views
- learn when to be authoritative or generous, serious or playful
Effective feedback
Studies show that we need clear feedback to learn. But many people don’t know how to give effective feedback. There’s a simple fix. Learn to:
- separate observations from evaluations
- give feedback that people can use to improve their work
How it works
The course shows you how to apply communication skills to workplace challenges. Here’s how it works, in a nutshell:
- Learn skills and try out techniques.
- Apply them to realistic scenarios.
- Practise your new skills in the workplace, between sessions.
Follow the links for more detail:
- Core skills + realistic role plays = impact
- Practise in the workplace between sessions
- Direct coaching
Core skills + realistic role plays = impact
The course includes 4 × 2-hour sessions over two weeks. This gives us time to work through the techniques, with space to reflect between sessions.
During the calls you’ll take part in exercises to learn each skill. This includes pair work (in breakout rooms) and group discussions. Then you’ll rehearse common workplace scenarios, like:
- speaking up in meetings
- getting “buy-in” for your ideas
- giving feedback
This lets you apply the techniques and find areas you’d like to develop.
Practise in the workplace between sessions
The Live Online format has a unique feature, that we can’t reproduce at our in-person courses. You have the opportunity to practise your new skills, in real life, between sessions. This means you’ll improve your impact before the course is over!
You will:
- choose an upcoming meeting where communication is important
- try out one of the techniques in that meeting
- report back to the group about how it went
Then you’ll get guidance from the coach on what to do next.
Direct coaching
Finally you’ll apply everything you’ve learned to your own “scene”. This is a simulation of a real challenge you face at work:
- other people will play your colleagues
- Jonathan will show you how to change your approach to get the outcome you want
There’s enough time for everyone to play a scene and receive coaching. You may learn as much from other people’s examples as your own.
Your coach: Jonathan Kahn
Jonathan Kahn is a communication coach who’s worked with hundreds of people since 2013. He’s trained engineers, designers, accountants, surgeons, research scientists, CEOs and UN Peacekeepers. He works in London and online, with people around the world.
Jonathan is a skilled listener. Clients describe his, “uncanny knack for identifying the major issues to address.” He understands how people learn new skills—and what gets in the way. Which means he can:
- get people using new skills immediately
- show them where to focus to get the outcomes they need
His unique approach comes from an unusual career path, starting as a web developer. He realised that what’s difficult about websites isn’t code—it’s getting people to work together. This insight started him on the path to becoming a communication coach.
Since then he’s learned advanced improvisation and facilitation techniques. He has organised—and presented at—conferences worldwide. He’s also trained the UK’s leading digital teams, like the Government Digital Service. After more than a decade in London, Jonathan now lives in West Wales with his partner and two children.
Benefits of live online courses
The benefits of live online courses include:
- trying out new skills in a group
- time to reflect and absorb the techniques
- personalised guidance
Let’s take each one in turn.
Try out new skills in a group
Learning communication skills in a group is easier than doing it alone. It’s also more fun. Your group will be up to 10 people—joining from different locations. As you work through the course you’ll get to know each other and discuss goals and challenges. You’ll practise together, experiment and watch each other learn.
Time to reflect and absorb the techniques
The online format lets us space out the sessions. This gives you time to reflect on the material. People often have “aha moments” between sessions, as something we discussed on the call becomes clearer.
You may also find yourself applying the techniques during normal work calls and meetings. We’ll discuss what you notice at the next session.
Personalised guidance
Jonathan is an experienced coach who’s trained hundreds of people. As you practise the techniques he’ll give you individual guidance and feedback. He’ll adapt the course to the needs of each person—so you get input that unblocks progress. In this way, the course will address the challenges and opportunities you face.
What’s included
The course includes:
- 4 × 2-hour sessions, delivered live via Zoom to a group of up to 10 people
- digital handout: describes the techniques, explains the theory, offers further reading
- expert coaching from Jonathan Kahn
Pricing
Book early to save:
| Rate | Booking deadline | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Early bird 🐦 | 2 weeks before | … |
| Standard | none | … |
Book a course 🛒
Reviews from past students
“I enjoyed the improv, the theory like high/low status and the chance to practise real examples. Jonathan was great at challenging us with excellent feedback and trying things out again. The size of the group worked well—we each had plenty of time for practice.”
—Calliste, Oxford University Press“The course helps you understand what authentic conversation actually looks like. And gives you a way to practise and discuss it. It gave me the space to explore and understand my needs when going into a meeting and how to prepare.”
—James, Cabinet Office“Covers lots of bases, gives you a set of tools/frameworks and insights into your strengths and weaknesses to build on. The role-playing exercises were very helpful as was Jonathan’s feedback. I liked the way he built the course around our different priorities.”
—Emma, The National Gallery“I recommend this course for those who want to inspire others with strong soft skills as much as their strong technical skills. Through a combination of games and group discussions, we had a lot of fun while also learning.”
—Julia, Google“I wanted to communicate more confidently but didn’t know how where to start. The course helped me identify the aspects I want to improve, and showed me how. The contents are well organized, interesting and applicable to day-to-day conversations.”
—Judit, Amaris Consulting“Kept you focused on what you wanted from it more than any other course I’ve been on. Jonathan is a skilled, open and honest facilitator who didn’t shy away from difficult topics and kept us engaged.”
—Urmi, Cabinet Office“It gave me tools & insights to modify/improve my skills. The best part was the instructor’s observations and the try, try, try again method—until it was fine tuned.”
—Vitor, Farfetch“The course clarified where my weak points were, and the role plays put the concepts into practice. I would recommend it to colleagues.”
—Hamita, Brunei Investment Agency
Questions & answers
We’ve answered common questions about the course below. (Didn’t find the answer you need? Get in touch!)
Who is the course suitable for?
This course will suit you if:
- effective communication part of your job
- you want to increase your impact by learning new skills
How is it possible to learn communication skills via Zoom?
Since the lockdown of 2020 we’ve adapted our face to face courses to play to Zoom’s strengths. This means that you can learn the same skills in a more convenient format. For example, you will:
- practise techniques in pairs using “breakout rooms”
- learn tricks to come across as confident and clear during video meetings
- watch recorded videos of leadership styles and identify which you’d like to adopt
This lets people develop their skills without spending two days in London.
How will I get personalised guidance in a group?
We keep groups small (no more than 10) to make sure there’s enough time for individual guidance. You will:
- get feedback as you learn the skills
- play out scenarios from your workplace
- receive coaching to hone your technique
How does the course build confidence?
The course will build your confidence by:
- giving you more options to try when you commmunicate
- offering tips and tricks for handling anxiety
- training you in procedures and routines to practise and improve
Do I need to attend all four sessions?
Yes. Over the four sessions you’ll:
- learn and practise techniques
- take part in role plays
- apply the skills to real scenarios
- get coaching and feedback
How can I convince my employer to fund this?
Employers are happy to pay for courses when they understand the business value. When you ask your manager for approval, made a business case. For example you could:
- explain why communication is an important part of your role
- outline how improving your impact will help the business
- commit to practising the techniques after the course
If you’re having trouble convincing your employer, get in touch. We’ll suggest ways to make the case.
Can you train my whole team?
Yes! Either in-person or online. See in-house training.
Do you have a face to face option?
Yes! Check out our face to face course in London.
Book a consultation
A 30-minute consultation with communication coach Jonathan Kahn.
During the call Jonathan will:
- assess your real-world communication
- show you where you’re blocked
- recommend a course or coaching to meet your needs
Take the first step!