Questioning and Listening Techniques Certificate

Questioning and listening skills are pivotal to effective communication and creating mutual understanding. These vital communication tools are requisite for building effective working and personal relationships. Interpersonal communication skills are the foundation of business success and the most highly sought after employees are those who are able to capitalise on these abilities.

Unfortunately, most people have no idea of the importance of communication skills in the workplace. However, research has clearly demonstrated that the ability to accurately communicate requirements, express needs, give and receive feedback and listen with empathy builds confidence and charisma and propels personal development. Conversely, the costs of poor communication are astronomical from both a financial perspective and the cost to morale and productivity.

What you will learn

This practical course will support you to enhance existing skills and develop new ones with expert guidance and supportive exercises. This course will guide you through the process of understanding and implementing these highly prized communication skills.  You will rapidly learn how to communicate more effectively with those around you and vitally deepen your understanding about the causes and consequences of costly miscommunications.

In addition to teaching you about the significance of quality communication, in everyday personal and business activities, this course will deliver focused and actionable advice which you can easily implement in all areas of your life. You will delve into the often hidden meanings buried in confusing communications and gain new insight into the emotional nature of expression.

This course focuses specifically on the two most significant areas of communication: the skills of listening and questioning. The secret of listening is far from obvious and without in-depth study many people merely scrape the surface of this valuable skill. In addition to learning how to get the most from colleagues, employers and personal relationships learning to actively and reflectively listen will reveal previously unavailable information and insights.

The root cause of the breakdown of many personal relationships, including marriages, is cited as being poor communication. Specifically this is the inability to effectively listen – many divorces could be prevented if couples learned how to really hear each other on a practical and emotional level.

Effective questioning is another valuable tool which will enable you to find and analyse the information that others hold. Knowing how to accurately and effectively ask various types of questions, and under which contexts, will minimise the effort and maximise the results in your interpersonal interactions. This course will also teach you techniques to enhance your understanding of the information you receive to ensure clarity and prevent ambiguity.

Feedback is another skill which you will learn; specifically you will receive guidance and undertake exercises to facilitate effective and honest feedback without the emotional ‘sting’. Harnessing the power of quality feedback is one of the most significant leaps you can take in your own personal development.

Finally this course supports you to implement a personal action plan which will help you assess your skills and define strategies to enhance your strengths and build on your knowledge. You will be amazed at the increase in confidence and esteem you will naturally experience as a result of improving these vital communication skills.

This course is designed for professionals who wish to enhance their knowledge of effective communication and significantly improve their practical skills. Taking this course will support your ability to gather information, build relationships, communicate with people at all levels and vitally understand both the logical and emotional facets of communication.