• Communication - contextual communication; day to day language appropriateness; tone/non-verbal communication; confidentiality; online (identity theft/phishing); presentations
• Cultural perspectives - including cross cultural communication
• Life long learning and developing of Work Profile
• Critical and creative thinking and problem solving
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Tension and conflict resolution
• Work-life balance
• Taking feedback
• Self-advocacy and negotiation

1 Know your value

Before you enter any negotiation, you need to know your value and what you bring to the table. This means identifying your strengths, achievements, contributions, and impact, as well as your areas of improvement and development. Knowing your value will help you communicate it effectively and confidently, and also help you set realistic and fair expectations for yourself and others.

2 Prepare your case

Once you know your value, you need to prepare your case for what you want and why you deserve it. This means doing your research, gathering evidence, and anticipating questions and objections. You also need to consider the other party's perspective, interests, and needs, and how you can align your case with them. Preparing your case will help you present it logically and persuasively, and also help you avoid surprises and pitfalls.

3 Build rapport

Negotiation is not only about facts and figures, but also about emotions and relationships. Building rapport with the other party is crucial for creating trust, respect, and understanding, and for finding common ground and mutual benefits. You can build rapport by showing genuine interest, listening actively, acknowledging emotions, using positive body language, and finding areas of agreement and appreciation.

4 Ask for what you want

One of the most important skills for self-advocacy is to ask for what you want clearly and assertively, without being aggressive or passive. This means stating your needs, interests, and goals in a positive and respectful way, and explaining how they benefit both you and the other party. You also need to be specific and realistic about what you want, and avoid vague or ambiguous requests.

5 Handle objections

Even if you have prepared your case well, you may still face some objections or resistance from the other party. Handling objections is a skill that requires patience, empathy, and creativity. You need to listen to the other party's concerns, validate their feelings, and address their issues with facts and evidence. You also need to avoid getting defensive, angry, or frustrated, and instead focus on finding solutions and alternatives.

6 Negotiate effectively

The final skill for self-advocacy is to negotiate effectively and reach a win-win outcome. This means being flexible and willing to compromise, but also knowing your limits and boundaries. You need to use positive and cooperative language, emphasize the benefits for both sides, and avoid ultimatums or threats. You also need to summarize the agreement, confirm the details, and follow up with actions.

What reasons might you need to know these skills in the work place?

What problems do you think you might have if you had to negotiate with your employer?

Play Paleo, Kites or Escape Room in a group

Add to your notes: what difficulties arose in collaborating with others? What worked well when collaborating with others?

Play Taboo or Articulate in a group

Add to your notes: what communication skills are tested in this game? 

What are communication skills?

Often when we think about communication, it’s almost always about talking. When we say someone’s a good communicator, we usually mean a good public speaker, a charismatic leader, or even a convincing salesperson. But, communication goes beyond speaking: it’s all about creating connections. As people, we connect and communicate with others in various ways. Aside from speaking, we also:

• Write: through chat, emails, texts, written memos, etc.
• Act: through body language, acts of service, and collaboration. We sometimes call this nonverbal communication.
• and Listen: through active listening and creating space for others to speak about their opinions and ideas.

Why are communication skills in the workplace important?

Remember that speaking, writing, acting, and listening work hand-in-hand. And if you and your team are proficient in all four communication types, you’re guaranteed to succeed and achieve your goals. This is because good communicators can:

• manage conflict,
• streamline slow processes,
• and motivate co-workers for a more productive work environment.

List at least 5 scenarios where communication is going to be important in a workplace.

What is confidentiality?

What situations in a workplace might demand confidentiality?

What tips do you have for presenters? Think PPt slides, what makes it interesting, what is off putting

What tips do you have for online communication at work ie emails?