Learn a simple, effective 7 step blueprint that can immediately improve communication skills.

1. Identify a checklist of skills
Identify the skills you need

• Core communication skills: explaining clearly; effective listening; communication without words; interviewing
• Team skills: communicating in a team; team building; managing meetings; presenting to a group
• Personal effectiveness: winning first impressions; empowering yourself; being assertive; influencing others
• Leadership: coaching on the job; productive counselling; empowering people
• Handling difficult situations: dealing with conflict; mediating disputes; handling difficult people; giving bad news; discipline interviewing

2. Get feedback from others

• "What skills do I do well... what don't I do well?"
• "Give me examples"
• "What do other people do well?"

3. Summarise skills that need development

• List each specific skill you need to develop
• "If I use this skill well, what would be different? eg. more
• sales, better feedback...

4. Develop skills

• Identify suitable activity: workshop; in-house program;
• video; observation

5. Actively experiment with new skills

• Try out new techniques - in role play, in the real world
• Initial 'fake' feeling will fade

6. Evaluate progress

• Monitor yourself
• Solicit feedback
• Is anything different?

7. Celebrate your success

• Reward yourself
• Keep improving - 7 steps loop