Learning the Art of Direct Communication

In this course, professor and communications expert Tessa West shows you how to develop strategies to communicate more directly. Learn how to identify your typical communication patterns and the reasons why communicating with transparency can be so difficult. Gather tools and techniques to prepare for direct communication, highlighting your goals and framing the conversation. Along the way, discover strategies to identify communication patterns that disrupt direct communication—including the bait and switch, barrier dumping, punt-it-out, defensiveness, and stonewalling—with practical and proven ways to address each of these patterns. By the end of this course, you’ll be prepared to navigate situations where direct communication can be especially difficult, such as when you’re giving feedback or dealing with team conflict.

Learning objectives
Identify your position on the transparency continuum and understand the factors driving your communication patterns.
Set clear communication goals and prepare your communication partner for upcoming interactions.
Recognize and respond to various disruptive communication patterns, including bait and switch, barrier dump, punt-it-out, and defensiveness.
Develop and utilize effective communication strategies to provide clarification, perform reality checks, and build trust.
Give constructive feedback following setbacks or failures and navigate conflicts within a team effectively.